Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum says the Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence, Netani Rika stopped their committee meeting yesterday after finding out that it was an illegal sitting.
Sayed-Khaiyum says he was informed by the Secretary General to Parliament Viniana Namosimalua that the Speaker Dr Jiko Luveni did not say that lawyer, Aman Ravindra Singh’s assault claims must be dealt with by the committee.
He says the claim by SODELPA is incorrect.
Leader of Opposition Ro Teimumu Kepa is calling for Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum to resign, claiming that he subverted the role and powers of the Speaker by allegedly ordering the Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence to stop looking into allegations of torture raised by Aman Ravindra Singh.
Ro Teimumu says the Committee Chairman Netani Rika decided to bring the meeting to an abrupt end before midday yesterday.
Opposition MPs Tupou Draunidalo and Isoa Tikoca opposed the premature termination of the meeting.
Draunidalo adds that they are very concerned that the meeting was stopped all of a sudden.
Sayed-Khaiyum says the Committee on Foreign Affairs does not have any expertise in dealing with such matters.
He confirms that he did make the call to the Chairman of the Committee.
Sayed-Khaiyum adds that the Acting Commissioner of Police Brigadier General Sitiveni Qiliho mentioned that he has not received any complaints from Aman Ravindra Singh.
