Reports from Maldives indicate that Prosecutor General Hussain Shameem has suffered a brutal machete attack at the hands of unidentified assailants, as detailed by the country's media outlets. Shameem, who was appointed by the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) during its tenure in government until November of the previous year, is now affiliated with the Opposition.
The assault on Shameem coincides with a series of incidents where Maldivian lawmakers have faced threats from gangs while traveling on public roads.
In a formal statement, The Democrats, the party led by former President Mohamed Nasheed, alleged that the attack was meticulously planned in advance.
"The heinous assault on Maldives' Prosecutor General, Hussain Shameem, involving a machete, appears to have been premeditated due to the nature of the attack occurring on the street. Such targeted violence against a high-ranking official tasked with upholding constitutional duties within the criminal justice system is an assault on the integrity of the entire judicial framework," the statement asserted, as reported by news agency ANI.
"This incident sends a perilous message and is under thorough investigation by the Maldives Police," the statement continued.
Meanwhile, the MDP announced that it has garnered adequate signatures to initiate a motion of no-confidence, paving the way for impeachment proceedings against President Mohamed Muizzu and his administration. The impending impeachment motion against the President, who is perceived as pro-China, is expected to be presented in Parliament imminently.
These developments unfolded following chaotic scenes in the Maldivian Parliament, where lawmakers engaged in physical altercations, disrupting a special session convened to secure parliamentary approval for Muizzu's cabinet appointments. Members of Parliament from the ruling coalition, comprising the People’s National Congress (PNC) and the Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM), clashed with MDP representatives.
Muizzu, aged 45, emerged victorious in the presidential runoff held in September of the preceding year, defeating the incumbent Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, known for his amicable ties with India.
Shortly after assuming office as the President of Maldives on November 17, Muizzu formally urged India to withdraw 88 military personnel from the country by March 15, citing a "strong mandate" from the Maldivian populace to make such a request to New Delhi.
According to the latest official data, there are 88 Indian military personnel stationed in the Maldives to support the operation of a Dornier aircraft and two helicopters provided by India.
In a thinly veiled critique aimed at India, Muizzu, without explicitly naming any nation, remarked, "Although we may be small, that does not authorize bullying tactics." These remarks were made subsequent to his visit to China, marking his inaugural foreign trip following assuming the presidency.
