Male, March 11 (IANS): The sentencing and deposing of Maldives Elections Commissioner Fuad Thaufeeq is unlawful and without any proper procedures, Parliament Speaker Abdullah Shahid and Deputy Speaker Ahmed Nazim said in a joint statement, media reported.

The statement was issued Monday, after the speaker and deputy speaker wrote a letter to President Abdulla Yameen, Chief Justice Ahmed Faiz and Attorney General Mohamed Anil that the Supreme Court's verdict against the elections commissioner was issued unlawfully, Haveeru online reported.

According to the parliament secretariat, the two had come to the conclusion after reviewing the court's verdict from a legal perspective.

The Supreme Court Sunday issued a suspended six-month prison sentence to Thaufeeg, and sacked him and his deputy. The prison sentence has been suspended for three years, according to Xinhua.

The court also ordered the commission to make all arrangements for the upcoming parliamentary elections within the next six days, and hold the elections March 22 as scheduled.

The Maldives Supreme Court has repeatedly come under fire from the international community for failing to meet international standards and has been accused of attempting to undermine the independence of the Elections Commission.

The Supreme Court was also seen as being partisan in the long drawn out and controversial presidential elections that took place from September to November last year.