Surprising that Yameen talks about courts: Falah

Ruling party People's National Congress (PNC)'s Parliamentary Group leader MP Ibrahim Falah fired back at former President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Qayyoom, saying he was surprised that Yameen was talking about courts and the judicial system.

His remarks were in response to Yameen's remarks yesterday night claiming the government was influencing the judiciary and that Chief Justice Ahmed Muthasim Adnan was "compromised".

Falah, who served as Inguraidhoo MP even during Yameen's administration, described the ongoing 20th Parliament as exemplary, and attributed this to the government keeping its "hands and feet" out of the legislature.

"I was in the 18th parliament. Yameen was the leader at the time. Yameen's hands and feet were sometimes uncontrollable and even the hands and feet of the then madam [first lady] were also on the parliamentary floor," Falah said, implying both Yameen and his wife influenced the Parliament.

"I'm just surprised that Yameen talks about the judiciary and the courts and I'm even more surprised that he talks about theft. My surprise is exacerbated because he talks about injustice. Sometimes I wonder if it really is Abdulla Yameen who is telling these stories."

Listing a set of questions, Falah said it was Yameen who did all that.

He said Yameen had committed the biggest betrayal accusing Yameen of having the most cruel rule in the country.

"Who upset this country's judiciary, [and] exerted the greatest influence on the courts? The answer is Yameen. Who occupied the parliament by torturing 12 MPs for two years, and refused their entry to the parliament? The answer is Yameen," Falah said.

Yameen claimed that the Chief Justice is compromised in connection to allegations that Justice Adnan met with Deputy Speaker of the Parliament Ahmed Nazim at the Royal Island Resort.

Royal Island Resort's owner MP Qasim Ibrahim denied the allegations and said Chief Justice Muthasim did not visit the resort last year or this year.