Maldives' Election Commission today halted preparations for the presidential run-off scheduled for Saturday after the Supreme Court directed security forces to stop any attempts to go ahead with the polls against its orders.
Election Commission of Maldives chief Fuwad Taufeeq's statement saying that the panel would go ahead with the run-off despite the Supreme Court order to postpone it had sparked confusion.
In an interview to 'Minivan News', Taufeeq said, "We don't believe any organisation or institution can overshadow the constitution. So we are working as per the constitution. I am trying to fulfil the national duty of the election commission. I don't want to leave room for those who break laws and the constitution."
After the election commission chief's statement, the Supreme Court directed security forces to implement its orders and thwart any attempts to go ahead with the polls, local daily Haveeru reported.
The latest orders of the Supreme Court prompted the Election Commission to halt its plans to go ahead with the second round of presidential elections.
"The commission was only working towards holding runoff expecting the verdict on the case to come at any time. However, after the latest order of the highest court, all preparations for the runoff have now been halted," Vice president of the commission Ahmed Fayaz Hassan was quoted as saying by the daily.
Maldivian Democratic Party leader Mohammed Nasheed who led the first round with over 45 per cent votes, has to face in the second round the Progressive Party of Maldives candidate Abdullah Yameen who was the runner up in the first phase held on September 7.