Top Maldivian Lawyer Hussain Shameem, Appointed By Previous Govt, Stabbed Amid Political Crisis

The Maldives' Prosecutor General Hussain Shameem, who reportedly was appointed by the previous MDP-led government, has been stabbed in broad daylight by gangs in the island nation.

More details are awaited on the incident.

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This comes amid Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) announcement of its plan to submit a motion to impeach President Mohamed Muizzu. MDP holds a majority in the Maldivian Parliament.

Hussain Shameem was appointed by the previous Ibrahim Mohamed Solih-led government.

Mohamed Muizzu, a pro-China leader, won the Maldives presidential election in October 2023 by defeating India-friendly Ibrahim Mohamed Solih.

Pro-China Maldives President Muizzu is facing an impeachment threat over reinstatement of four members of the cabinet, over which clashes broke out in Parliament on Sunday between pro-government MPs and opposition lawmakers.

After the main opposition announced its plan to impeach Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu on Tuesday, the government approached the Supreme Court over the recent amendment to Parliament’s standing orders which makes the process of impeachment easier, according to media reports on Tuesday.

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President Muizzu re-appointed three members of his cabinet on Monday even after they were denied approval during a vote in the Parliament where the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) has the highest number of members.

The whole row about allowing or not of the three ministers started after seven lawmakers resigned from Parliament in November, to assume top positions in Muizzu’s administration.

(with PTI inputs)