MDP's parliamentary group (PG) leader and Hithadhoo constituency MP Mohamed Aslam has requested Speaker Nasheed to extend the ongoing term at the parliament owing to pending works.

Aslam made the request in a letter to the parliament in which he highlighted five issues that need to be attended by the parliament. He requested Speaker Nasheed not to send parliament into recess without sorting the issues.

In his letter, Aslam also stated that is it the Speaker's responsibility to ensure that parliament sittings can go on without disruptions even if the Speaker excuses himself from the sittings. He added that scheduling a parliament sitting for just the committee's goes against the parliament regulation as well.

Aslam's letter highlighted the following issues:

  • Issues with comprising committees
  • Motion against AG Riffath and Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid
  • Regulatory changes that need to be brought to parliament
  • Motion against Speaker and Deputy Speaker
  • Electing members to Elections Commission

Aslam stated that some of the issues need immediate attention.

Parliament meeting for Thursday has been scheduled to only attend to how parliament committees are to be formed, with time allocated for members to debate on the proposed options.

However, voting on this issue is to be scheduled for the next parliament meeting which would be when the parliament resumes after recess.

Speaking at the parliament meeting on Thursday, Aslam stated that parliament needs another meeting to sort the issue on the committees before going to recess. His suggestion was seconded by other MP's from MDP as well.

Responding to this, Speaker Nasheed stated that the only times parliament sessions have been extended has been following the request by the Speaker.

"As such, parliament sessions can only be extended if the Speaker requests it," Nasheed said.