Maldives ruling party denies axing Gayoom's son

Ruling Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) on Sunday denied axing leader Maumoon Abdul Gayoom's son from the party after violating a three line whip in a controversial parliament vote.

Faaris Maumoon the MP for Dhiggaru constituency had voted against a government proposed controversial amendment to the Tourism Act defying a three line whip issued by the PPM parliamentary group despite Gayoom urging his party lawmakers to vote down the amendment.

The former president's eldest son had sought official confirmation of the PPM behavioural committee's decision to oust him from the party.

PPM deputy secretary general in a letter insisted that a complaint against Faaris had not been filed in accordance with the charter.

Gayoom has been locked in a major power struggle for the ruling party’s control with his half brother and incumbent president Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom.

Gayoom had assumed full control of the party amid a fallout from his failed attempt to get his party lawmakers to vote down the amendment.

Gayoom had immediately relieved his deputy and Fonadhoo MP Abdul Raheem Abdulla of his authority to call council meetings and the overall administrative running of PPM.

The move is believed to have been taken after the party council moved to penalise his son.

The PG group had sent a letter to Gayoom urging action against Faaris which was ignored by the ex-president.

Gayoom in his response had insisted that Faaris will not be penalised as he was following a request made by the party president.

But the behavioral committee had reportedly held the sit-down without Gayoom’s blessing.

Shortly after the committee’s decision, his sister foreign minister Dhunya Maumoon resigned citing opposition to the government’s bid to implement the death penalty.

In a statement shared with the media, Dunya said the resignation was “one of the most difficult decisions” she has taken.

“Yet, the decision became inevitable because of the profound differences of opinion on the government’s policy in implementing the death penalty at a time when serious questions are being asked, and concerns being expressed, about the delivery of justice in the Maldives,” she said.

Meanwhile, the country’s graft watchdog is set to question the elder Gayoom over several corruption allegations during his last year at office in 2008.