Former Attorney General Aishath Azima Shukoor has described a Civil Court order to pay more than MVR 4 million owed to the Maldives Islamic Bank (MIB) under a "musharakah agreement" as a personal attack.

The Civil Court delivered the judgment against Azima - who is running for mayor of Malé in a by-election on January 13 - in her absence. The lawsuit involved the purchase of an apartment with the loan.

Speaking at a campaign gathering of the ruling People's National Congress (PNC), Azima said the order was issued in her absence and claimed that she earned her income through honest work.

"Today I have suffered two personal attacks. Even then I was doing door-to-door with two ministers. You cannot mess with me," Azima said.

"They are trying to be personal with me. I faced a court order today in a civil case. The order was issued in my absence."

The order makes it clear that she did not take advantage of her previous positions and was earning an income through honest work, Azima claimed.

She also issued a statement on the matter, saying that the order came after she had requested the bank to restructure the loan. She said she had discussions with the bank last month.

While Azima said she faced two personal attacks, there have been rumors about her daughter on social media.

Azima said it would not waver in her determination and said: "If you are personal, I can be personal too."