Azaan removed from Public Accounts Committee and 241 Committee

Ruling People's National Congress (PNC) MP for Central Hithadhoo Ahmed Azaan has been removed from two major parliamentary committees.

Azaan was recently under fire for voting against the party whipline as well. PNC had issue a three line whip to pass the bill proposing an amendment to the Judicature Act which would decrease the number of Supreme Court judges from seven to five. Azaan, however, did not participate in this vote either.

Commencing today's parliament sitting, Speaker Abdul Raheem Adbulla announced that PNC Parliamentary Group had decided to bring changes to the Public Accounts Committee and Committee on Security Services (241 Committee).

Azaan was replaced in the Public Accounts Committee by PNC's North Henveiru MP Ahmed Aifan. His spot in the 241 Committee was given to Vilimale' MP Mohamed Ismail.

Azaan has been instead placed in the Petition Committee and Committee on Members' Privileges and Ethics.

Regarding this change, Azaan said to Mihaaru News that he believes this was done under the influence of some powerful individuals as he was working towards looking into corruption involving them from within the Public Accounts Committee.

He said that the committee is reviewing procurements from SOEs, through which it had come to light that in the past year alone, WAMCO spent MVR 65 million on renting items.

Azaan said that when the initiative is taken to look into issues such as this, there is heavy pressure from various sides to drop such cases.

Azaan asserted that despite being removed from two of the most key parliament committees, he would not step back from looking into issues such as that. He said that although he is not a member of a specific committee, he can look into such issues in his capacity as a parliament member, and work to hold them accountable.

PNC PG Leader Ibrahim Falah had previously said that action would be taken against those who voted against the party whipline.

It was earlier reported that Azaan has been removed from the party's PG Whatsapp group as well.