The Parliament's General Committee passed today that the sitting to be held regarding the case submitted to remove the Member for Dhiggaru constituency, Ahmed Nazim, from the post of Deputy Speaker of the Parliament will proceed for a total of one hour.
The decision to remove Nazim from office was made during a meeting held by the parliamentary group of the ruling party, PNC. Following that meeting, 73 members of PNC signed and submitted the resolution to remove Nazim from his post.
According to the proposal made by the Member for Holhudhoo constituency, Abdul Sattar, and supported by the Member for Dhuvaafaru constituency, Mohamed Ali, during the General Committee's meeting held today regarding the matter, Nazim will receive 10 minutes to respond to the parliament at that sitting. Furthermore, the 50 minutes for members to debate will be distributed on a three-minutes-per-member basis.
The proposal was passed by the consensus of the five members who participated in the vote taken for it at the committee meeting.
According to the resolution submitted to the parliament with the signatures of 73 parliamentary group members of PNC to pass a no-confidence vote against Nazim, one reason submitted for his lack of confidence is the allegation of using official influence to secure undue advantages. The second allegation is encouraging the disruption of the parliament's harmony and evading responsibility, the resolution stated.
The resolution noted that because Nazim has been biased in discharging his official duties, he has extensively neglected to protect the rights and privileges of all members. The resolution also stated that because Nazim acts in that manner, "the Deputy Speaker has become an obstacle" in fulfilling the duties mandated to the members.
According to the parliament's regulations, a motion to remove the Deputy Speaker from office can only be submitted via a resolution signed by no less than one-fourth of the total number of members. That is at least 24 members.
However, according to the regulations, the Deputy Speaker of parliament can be removed from office by a majority of the members present and voting at the parliament sitting.
Out of the 93 members in the parliament, the number of PNC members stands at 76.
Nazim secured the post of Deputy Speaker of parliament by receiving 80 votes in the vote taken among the members of the parliament. MDP Member for Maradhoo constituency, Ahmed Didi, who competed against Nazim, received 12 votes.
While a motion has been submitted to remove Nazim from the post of Deputy Speaker of parliament, he also previously served as the Deputy Speaker in the 17th parliament.
