Case filed with High Court contesting upcoming referendum

Attorney-at-law Mariyam Shunana has filed a constitutional case with the High Court, challenging the referendum scheduled for Saturday on synchronizing the presidential and parliamentary elections.

The case filed by Shunana on Monday cites inconsistencies in the question being asked in the referendum, and the failure of the Elections Commission to properly explain the full purpose of the vote.

The High Court has yet to make a decision on the case.

Shunana also argues that the EC violated the procedures set down on the law on holding referendums, and did not act independently when it decided to hold the referendum on the date decided by the President by disregarding the considerations the commission is required to make in order to ensure a fair referendum.

She also noted the 46-day window between when President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu announced the decision to hold the referendum and the date on which it is being held – which she said is far short a timeframe to raise public awareness, engage in debate, or make other referendum-related preparations.

Shunana applied for a temporary order to half the referendum, and also asked the court for a ban on announcement of results, and to hold off on providing any sort of legal legitimacy to the vote in the event the temporary order isn’t granted.

The latest case follows two cases filed with the Supreme Court and one with the Civil Court – all seeking to halt the referendum. The top court rejected one of the cases and is set to issue its judgement on the other on Tuesday, while the Civil Court has repeatedly rejected the case filed with the court.