Police say they have launched an investigation into the attack against Independent Presidential Candidate Umar Naseer.
The former Home Minister was attacked while participating in a road rally in Hulhumale Phase I yesterday. Umar's camp said that an individual suspected of being a drug dealer threw a metal rod at the candidate which hit his face.
Umar's team said that his security had taken a photo of the individual and reported the incident to the Police.
The Police initially informed The Press that no such report has been made to the police regarding the incident.
But later on, said that a report of the incident had been filed at the Police and that they were now investigating the incident.
Earlier, the Vice President of the Elections Commission Ismail Habeeb called on the police to conduct a thorough investigation into the attack and to bring the perpetrators to justice.
Habeeb said that from the day the Commission publically announces the names of the Presidential Candidates till the day the newly elected President is sworn in, the Government must provide security details for all the candidates and their running mates and that this was stipulated in the law.
Habeeb said endangering the safety of any candidate or any running mate is deemed a crime. He said that the Elections Commission calls on the members of the security services to stop any such risks to the candidates and their running mates.
He urged the public not to take part in such uncivilized acts.
