News Desk
President Dr. Mohammed Muizzu made it clear: loyalty to the party line is non-negotiable. But for Ahmed Azaan, the member of Parliament from Hithadhoo Central, that line blurred when he refused to back a bill slashing the Supreme Court bench from seven judges to five.
The fallout was swift—Azaan found himself booted from the Progressive National Congress (PNC) parliamentary WhatsApp group, a public signal of the brewing tension within the ruling party.
The bill, which passed in Parliament yesterday with 64 votes in favor and 12 against, wasn’t without controversy.
President Muizzu, in a stern message to the parliamentary group, insisted that defying the party’s three-line whip was unacceptable. Adding fuel to the fire, Majority Leader (PNC) Ibrahim Falah warned that those who skipped the vote on purpose would face consequences. Later, in a post on X, Falah clarified that nine of the absent members were on party-sanctioned trips, leaving just two who deliberately abstained.
Azaan, however, isn’t backing down. In a statement, he called the bill unconstitutional, arguing it oversteps Majlis’ authority and undermines the judiciary. “This isn’t about party loyalty—it’s about the people and the national interest,” he said, explaining that he consulted constituents, lawyers, and even cabinet ministers before deciding to break ranks.
He pointed to Article 75 of the Constitution, insisting that removing judges should go through the Judicial Service Commission, not a legislative shortcut, especially with the PNC holding a supermajority in the Majlis.
The timing adds another layer of unease. The Supreme Court’s bench was trimmed to five judges while it’s still hearing an opposition filed case challenging a constitutional amendment—one that could strip MPs of their seats if they ditch the party they were elected under. Azaan didn’t mince words: amending the Courts Act to oust two judges mid-case, he said, is a legal misstep.
Still, Azaan insists he’s not turning his back on the government. “I’m pro-government,” he said, “but I’ll keep holding them accountable when promises to the people fall short.”
His stance has sparked murmurs of unrest among PNC members, some of whom privately questioned the bill even as the leadership pushed it through yesterday. The vote followed that order, and the bill’s passage now sets the stage for a reshaped judiciary.
Falah’s threat of action looms large, but Azaan’s defiance suggests the PNC’s grip on its ranks might not be as tight as one hopes. For now, the WhatsApp exile is just the beginning.
