The Parliament’s Independent Institutions Committee on Sunday approved the dismissal of several members of various independent institutions.
The committee decided to dismiss the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC)’s Vice-President Abdul Salam, member Thoha Mohamed, Elections Commission (EC)’s Vice-President Ali Nashath, its members Mohamed Asif and Dr. Mohamed Zahir.
The case submitted to the Independent Institutions Committee also sought the dismissal of the President of the Civil Service Commission’s President Mohamed Nasih. However, the committee meeting, held behind closed doors, did not dismiss Nasih. The reason for the decision remains unclear.
According to the letter read to the Parliament on November 12, Thoha and Salam have violated Article 17(a) and (b) of the ACC Act, which prohibits commission members from giving in to fear or influence in carrying out the commission’s responsibilities, and from pursuing self-interest in deciding on any issue or policy.
The EC and CSC members were accused of violating the commissions’ code of conduct. While the EC and CSC Act provides that a member can be removed from office if the rules of conduct are violated, the letter noted that Nashath, Asif, Dr Zahir and Nasih’s violations were being investigated by the committee.
It is notable that the members being dismissed were appointed to their respective commissions by the 19th Parliament which held a MDP majority, on the recommendation of the MDP government.
