Ruling People's National Congress (PNC) Parliamentary Group Leader Ibrahim Falah has denied claims that President Dr Mohamed Muizzu ordered the dismissal of Central Maafannu MP Asma Rasheed from the party. 

An audio recording was leaked on social media in which Asma allegedly asks a man to not vote for the PNC in last Saturday's Local Council Elections. Rumours spread today that President Dr Mohamed Muizzu had ordered the party's disciplinary committee to probe the issue, and dismiss Asma.

Asked for confirmation, Falah denied that any such orders had been made. 

"That is a blatant lie. Asma is not being dismissed. We are not even investigating anything against her," Falah said. 

If Asma is dismissed from PNC, she will lose her parliamentary seat as well. A constitutional amendment brought by this administration states that if an MP changes political parties, or is dismissed from the party they were elected through, they will lose their seat. 

Speculation about Asma's dismissal has risen following the government yesterday removing Maldivian Ambassador to the UAE Mohamed Hussain Shareef (Mundhu) and Permanent Representative of the Maldives to the United Nations Office in Geneva Dr Salma Rasheed from their posts. Mundhu is Asma's son, while Salma is her younger sister. 

The government is yet to disclose the reason behind their dismissals. 

Asma was previously the Chair of parliament's Social Affairs Committee. However, she was removed from the committee in December last year. 

She was removed from the committee after she sent a message to constituents asking them to forward her any messages or questions they wished to pose to President Muizzu when he met with Maafannu residents. The issue became heated at the time, with the government stating that they do not screen citizens' exchanges with the President.