Parliament’s committee on independent institutions has passed the resolution for the freedom of former President Mohamed Nasheed, with amendments, and forwarded it to the parliament floor.
While the resolution called on the Prosecutor General and the Supreme Court to annul Nasheed’s terrorism conviction, the committee’s amendments note that the same should be applied for others convicted similarly.
The committee on independent institutions comprises of eight lawmakers from the ruling Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) and three from the Joint Opposition.
The resolution was submitted last month, by MP Eva Abdulla from opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP). 49 MPs, including 12 from the ruling party, had signed the resolution.
Since then, Supreme Court has issued stay orders on the enforcement of Nasheed’s jail sentence, as well as other political prisoners. The court’s ruling further released them from police custody, until it reaches a conclusion on their cases.
48 lawmakers, out of 85, voted to accept the resolution, with five voting against and four abstaining from the vote.
Nasheed was found guilty of ordering the abduction of a judge after a ‘rushed’ and widely criticized trial in March 2015. While he was sentenced to 13 years, it was upheld by the Supreme Court in June 2017.
He was granted political asylum in Britain after traveling there for medical purposes in January 2016.
The opposition leader returned to Maldives earlier this month, after living in exile for nearly three years.
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