Maldives government lifts 45-day state of Emergency

The Maldives government on Thursday lifted state of Emergency in the country which was in operation for nearly 45 days since 5th February.

Azima Shakoor, legal affairs minister at the President’s Office, and Attorney General Mohamed Anil announced that the emergency has been lifted, effective from Thursday 12:00 noon.

They revealed that the decision to lift the long standing state of emergency comes after security forces assured the president that they could maintain ‘stability’ in the nation without its authority.

The state of emergency, initially declared for 15 days on the night of February 5th, was extended by 30 days.

The government has maintained that the declaration was a necessity, in order to foil a judicial coup and hold the judiciary accountable.

A Supreme court judgement on February 1st had called for release of nine political leaders and reinstatement of 12 opposition MPs.

Maldives government had imposed emergency in a bid to quash the order and arrested chief justice and another judge on corruption charges and trying to overthrow the government.

Former President Mohammed Nasheed, reacting to the decision said the emergency was lifted because President has no need for it. H alleged that President has overrun the judiciary and legislature, arrested hundreds unlawfully and introduced full dictatorship.