Court refuses the application to strike out NFP’s case

The Suva High Court has today refused the application to strike out the National Federation Party’s case against the Registrar of Political Parties, Mohammed Saneem.

Justice, Lyone Seneviratne says it cannot be said that these proceedings are scandalous, frivolous or vexatious.

He says the National Federation Party is seeking to challenge the propriety of the decision of the Registrar of Political Parties to suspend the NFP from functioning as a political party, to which they are entitled to under the law.

The NFP was suspended after the Registrar of Political Parties, Mohammed Saneem said the NFP’s accounts were not audited by an accountant certified by the Fiji Institute of Accountants.

Lawyer of the Attorney General’s Office, Seema Chand, who is representing the Registrar of Political Parties had filed the strike out application.

Chand had said the Registrar had the discretion to suspend NFP as the issue came about from the audit.

NFP’s lawyer, Jon Apted had said the NFP had the right to lawful and fair decisions however the decisions of the Registrar were not proportionate and fair.

He said it was not necessary to suspend the party.

The case has been adjourned to the 29th of next month.