Elections Commission of Maldives has requested the High Court to change the bench deliberating in the case regarding the validity of the Extraordinary Congress held by Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM).
Currently, the bench consists of Judge Mohamed Faisal, Judge Hassan Ali and Judge Hussain Shaheed. Elections Commission cited conflict of interest as the reason for requesting the bench change. Prior to serving on the High Court bench, presiding Judge Mohamed Faisal was former President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom's member at the Judicial Service Commission (JSC), while Judge Hassan Ali served in several political positions in the Yameen administration prior to his appointment to the High Court bench.
Earlier, the sentencing of the case was scheduled for November 15. However, the High Court postponed the sentencing, which would determine if the Elections Commission was right in its decision to invalidate the PPM Extraordinary Congress. Elections Commission cited failure to adhere to set procedures as the reason behind its decision to invalidate the PPM Extraordinary Congress.