Parliament dismisses Shameem citing resignation not received

Parliament has dismissed Prosecutor General Hussain Shameem citing his resignation letter was not received by the President’s Office.

The final floor vote on the no-confidence motion submitted against Shameem was scheduled for 21:00pm tonight. Shameem tendered his resignation shortly after the sitting commenced.

The Parliament, however, proceeded with the sitting as it could not confirm that the President’s Office received Shameem’s resignation. After MPs concluded the debate on the no-confidence motion, the bell to commence the vote was rung.

Deputy Speaker Ahmed Nazim who was presiding over the sitting had clarified whether the President’s Office received Shameem’s resignation before he asked for the vote.

In this regard, the vote was asked for after the Assistant Secretary General contacted the President’s Office to confirm the status of the resignation in accordance with the counsel of the Secretary General.

“The Secretary General had counseled to contact the President’s Office to confirm whether the letter has been received or not when the time of voting arrives. It has been clarified. The letter was not received,” Nazim said.

65 MPs voted to dismiss Shameem with just nine MPs voting against his dismissal.

Henceforth, a new Prosecutor General must be appointed within 30 days. As the Parliament will break for recess tonight, Nasim said an extraordinary sitting out of session will be held for the appointment of a new Prosecutor General.

Nominations for the post put forth by the President will be reviewed during this sitting.

The motion against Shameem was submitted to the Parliament by Hulhudhoo MP Mohamed Shahid, a top politician from the main ruling People’s National Congress (PNC).

The Judiciary Committee, which reviewed the motion, voted in favor of ousting Shameem on Thursday afternoon, shortly after summoning Shameem for a closed-door meeting to hear his response to the motion.

Thursday’s committee meeting was held behind closed doors against the wishes of Shameem, who had asked for a public hearing.

He said that the no-confidence motion against him was based on allegations that were “baseless, tired, and asked and answered”, alleging that the attempt to oust him was because he created an institution that is free from all undue influence.

The motion passed with a vote of 8-2. The two committee members who opposed the motion were both from the main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP). Meanwhile, the committee’s chair, Manadhoo MP Husnee Mubarak sat out of the vote.