Parliament cancels first sitting scheduled after extending session for ‘important work’

The Parliament has cancelled the sitting on Monday, the first one scheduled after the legislative assembly decided to extend its session until the end of May citing the need to complete important work.

The Parliament had been set to wrap up the first session of the year and go into recess last week.

But on Thursday, Speaker Abdul Raheem Abdulla proposed extending the session citing a need to complete “important pending work during this session.”

The ruling People’s National Congress (PNC) used its supermajority to pass the motion with a majority vote of 58-11.

They decided to extend the session until May 31.

However, the Parliament will be closed from May 22-May 30 for the Eid al-Adha holidays.

Adjourning Thursday’s sitting, Abdul Raheem announced the next sitting would be held on Monday. However, the Parliament has not published the agenda for the sitting and nor has it shared any information regarding any committee meetings.

The Parliament’s Secretariat confirmed to Sun that the sitting was cancelled, but did not provide an explanation for the decision.

The decision to extend the session came the same day that the PNC filed a no-confidence motion seeking to oust Deputy Speaker Ahmed Nazim on allegations of repeatedly abusing his office to create strife and disharmony.

The motion was endorsed by 73 lawmakers from his party.

The exact issue that led to Nazim falling out with members of his party remains unclear.