Prime Minister Robert Abela has called his parliamentary group in for an urgent meeting – reportedly because the magistrate overseeing the Jean Paul Sofia inquiry has requested another deadline extension, her sixth one so far.

Government sources confirmed with Lovin Malta that the meeting had been called – and Times of Malta reported that law court courses confirmed the magistrate’s deadline extension.

This comes after Prime Minister Robert Abela personally wrote to Magistrate Marse-Ann Farrugia to hurry up and conclude her inquiry, which has gone way past its original deadline date by months, no less than two times.

Her latest request has reportedly angered Abela, and comes just hours before a popular rally in Valletta in support of a public inquiry into the death of Jean Paul Sofia is being held.

As a result of this, the government is mulling over opening a parallel investigation.