Falaah dismisses rumours of PNC move to expel Asma after leaked audio fallout

The PNC Parliamentary Group (PG) Leader Ibrahim Falaah on Tuesday denied claims that Asma Rasheed is being expelled from the party.

A leaked audio recording of Asma expressing dissatisfaction with the government recently circulated on social media. Following the leak, her son, Maldivian Ambassador to the UAE Mohamed Hussain Shareef, and her sister, Permanent Representative to Geneva Dr. Salma Rasheed, were dismissed from their posts. A family member confirmed to Sun that both were removed due to the leaked call.

Since the recording surfaced, rumours have spread online that the PNC disciplinary committee is investigating Asma and preparing to expel her. Under the constitutional amendment passed by the current administration, she would lose her parliamentary seat if expelled from the party.

When asked whether any action was being taken against Asma, Falaah described the rumour as a “big lie”.

The controversy comes in the wake of the PNC’s heavy defeat in Saturday’s local council elections.

Meanwhile, the Privatization and Corporatization Board (PCB) has dismissed several senior officials of state‑owned companies. Fenaka MD Mohamed Najah and AgroNat MD Hussain Didi were removed from their posts, while MPL MD DCP (Retd) Mohamed Rishwan resigned.