Heated exchange over decision to close committee meeting with PG Shameem

Opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) aimed heated comments at ruling People's National Congress (PNC), who responded in kind, over yesterday's decision by the Parliament's Judiciary Committee to dismiss Prosecutor General Hussain Shameem.

In last night's parliament sitting held to vote on the Committee's decision, MDP Parliamentary Group Leader and South Hithadhoo MP Ibrahim Nazil alleged that the dismissal of Shameem had been conducted against parliamentary rules and regulations. He maintains that the committee's decision to hold the meeting closed contravenes parliament policies.

The meeting had been held close despite Shameem having earlier requested that it be held open to the public, and even broadcast live.

Nazil said that the committee had decided to hold the meeting closed without consideration of the accepted justifications for doing so as defined in the regulations. Based on this, he raised questions about the validity of the committee's decision.

"It is clearly stated in these regulations how a meeting can be held closed. In such a situation, they have summoned an independent person to a closed room and questioned him, and then presented to us something made against existing rules and regulations," Nazil said.

Judiciary Committee Chair, PNC's Husnee Mubarak, MP for Manadhoo, responded to these comments claiming that the committee meeting had been held in accordance with the regulations. He declared that the meeting had been held closed after it was proposed, and had received majority votes in favour.

Mubarak said that the committee had been closed so as to avoid Shameem being humiliated, adding that this is a justified reason for closing meetings as per the regulations. He went on to note that the issues around Shameem also concerned personal information of many individuals. He noted that even in a previous committee meeting Shameem had attended, he himself had requested that the meeting be confidential before revealing certain information.

Parliament last night took a vote and dismissed Shameem from his position stating President Dr Mohamed Muizzu had not received Shameem's resignation letter even by the time of asking for votes.

However, Shameem has said that he had submitted the letter via email before the start of last night's Parliament sitting.

After resigning, Shameem had left the PG Office just ahead of the start of last night's Parliament sitting. Photos circulating on social media showed many PG Office employees filed on opposite sides of a red carpet, bidding goodbye to the PG as he walked out after his resignation. PG Shameem, it seemed, had a dignified exit from office, with a red carpet farewell granted to him by his former team.

In a press statement ahead of last night's Parliamentary sitting, Shameem said that it was against natural justice and judicial standards to publicly announce the allegations against him, and yet close the meeting where he responded to them.

"In protest of this, I hand in my resignation from the post of Prosecutor General as per Article 226 of the Constitution," Shameem stated.

The motion of no confidence against Shameem, seeking his dismissal, was submitted by PNC's Hulhudhoo MP Mohamed Shahid.

While many allegations were raised against Shameem, he dismissed them as baseless and denied all allegations.

Shameem said that for the past four years and eight months, he had fulfilled his duties as PG in accordance with the Constitution and laws, free of influence and independently, without fear or favour.

"Although different individuals attempted to influence me directly and indirectly, they cannot exert influence over me," Shameem asserted.