The parliament on Monday approved to dismiss its representative on the Judicial Service Commission (JSC), Guraidhoo MP Ibrahim Riza, from his post.

The motion to remove Riza from JSC was submitted to the parliament by member of Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) and Vaikaradhoo MP Mohamed Nazim. The motion was passed with the votes of 42 members out of 67 parliamentarians present at the sitting, while 24 members voted against and one member abstained from the vote.

During the debate, lawmakers of the opposition coalition criticised Riza, accusing him of being involved in the alleged injustice of outgoing President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom's administration. Stating that JSC was the main pillar of the Maldivian judiciary, the opposition MPs proclaimed that Riza was an accomplice to "meddling" with the judicial system.

However, lawmakers of ruling Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) spoke in defence of Riza, declaring that he was a capable, honest and loyal lawmaker suited to the post. The pro-government MPs alleged that the motion to dismiss Riza from his post on JSC was politically motivated.

Speaking in his own defence, Riza maintained that he had carried out his responsibilities faithfully as the representative on JSC, adding that the reasons submitted to remove him was laughable.

Riza had served as the parliament's representative on the Judicial Service Commission for four years.