Interruptions not due to Drafting Committee - Ibra

MP for Male’ as well as the Chairman of the Drafting Committee Ibrahim Ismail (Ibra) has said that the sessions of the Majlis were interrupted yesterday not because of the Drafting Committee. Ibra made the statement in response to Speaker Qasim’s remarks that Special Majlis sessions were being interrupted due to lack of work.

According to Ibra, after the Majlis recess facilitated illegally by Speaker Qasim followed by commencement of work on the 13 of this month, Drafting Committee was only able to meet last Wednesday.

“When Speaker Qasim make such statements people will not be aware of the situation, after the commencement of work on the 13 of January, 2 sessions were scheduled daily, as such work of the Drafting Committee could not be carried out, then after Wednesday morning’s session, Speaker freed time for the Drafting Committee to meet in the afternoon, after the meeting on Wednesday afternoon we had completed re drafts of articles of 3 chapters which were submitted to the Majlis on Thursday” said Ibra.

Ibra says that it is the responsibility of the Speaker to send the articles drafted or re drafted by the Drafting Committee to the Members. Ibra said if the re drafts completed by the Drafting Committee on Wednesday were sent to the Majlis Members on Thursday, then there would be sufficient work for members following the completion of scheduled agenda items.

“If those articles were sent to the Members that day(Thursday), the period to submit amendments would expire today(Sunday), following the completion of agenda today, those articles could have been tabled, however it was not sent to the members” said Ibra.
Ibra further revealed that even after yesterday’s meeting work of the Drafting Committee continued. In this regard he said work of redrafting those articles of the President’s Chapter continued. Ibra also said that Drafting Panel was also engaged in drafting of the Transitional Chapter.

“The Drafting Panel has commenced work on the Transitional Chapter, it will also take time, when the Drafting Panel finishes their work then the Drafting Committee will start looking at it, the reason why this is happening is because Members were given leave, even then I told the Speaker that such actions would delay the work” said Ibra.

At yesterday’s session Speaker Qasim said that work of the Special Majlis was interrupted due failure to submit the articles to the Majlis floor following completion of work by the Drafting Committee. Qasim also said 3 articles were forwarded to the Members so that they may submit amendment if any. Speaker Qasim also said even though the time period specified for submitting amendments to those articles will be over today, he will not schedule a Majlis session before 7 of February.

Asked to comment on when the constitution reform would be completed, Ibra replied in light of the present circumstances he is unable to provide to provide a definitive answer.