By Maheesha Mudugamuwa Courtesy The Island

The Joint Opposition (JO) yesterday demanded that President Maithripala Sirisena immediately remove Provincial Councils and Local Government Minister Faiszer Musthapaha from his ministerial portfolio as he had failed to perform his duties.

Addressing the JO’s weekly media briefing at the Dr. N. M Perera Centre in Borella, Podu Jana Peramuna (SLPJP) Chairman Prof. G.L Peiris said Minister Musthapha should take the full responsibility for postponing the LG polls for two and a half years and violating people’s franchise.Minister Musthapha was not a UNPer, he was a member of President’s party and, therefore, immediate steps should be taken against him, Prof. Peris said.

The Court of Appeal, on Wednesday, issued notice on Minister Musthapha and the Secretary to the Ministry. The Court suspended till Dec. 4, the operation of the gazette dated, Feb. 17, 2017, pertaining to the holding of elections to the local authorities, depending on the delimitation of wards and the specification of the number of members as recommended by a committee appointed by the Minister.

Former External Affairs Minister Prof. Peiris alleged that the country had been without elections for the last two and half years and Musthapha had to be blamed for the situation.

Meanwhile, the JO has tabled a no-confidence motion against Minister Musthapha yesterday in Parliament.

Prof. Peiris said the Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID) was illegal and the government used it to conduct a political witch hunt.

“So far more than 10 MPs have been remanded and none of their charges has been proved by any court in the country. We also have got information through reliable sources that the government is planning to arrest former Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa because of his Eliya programme which educates the professionals on constitutional reform process.” He said the JO had decided to file individual court cases against police officers involved in arresting JO members.