Government to forward PG nomination to new parliament

The government will not propose a new Prosecutor General to the current parliament, a government official has said.

Parliament held its last session for the 17th parliament on 28 April. A new parliament, with a ruling coalition majority, is expected to take oath later this month.

A government official told Sun Online on Tuesday that the decision to wait was made by President Abdulla Yameen, over uncertainty that the current parliament will approve his nomination.

“President Yameen is not sure if he forwards a name for the PG post to the current parliament, if he will get the 39 votes for it pass. He has decided to forward the name once the newly elected parliament is sworn in,” the official said.

The government official further said that the President views the Prosecutor General’s recent resignation as irresponsible and court hearings must continue if the courts allow it, regardless of the Deputy Prosecutor General's resignation.

“Chief Judge of Criminal Court has said that he wants to carry on with the cases. Therefore, the President believes that criminal cases can continue. Hearings have come to a halt not because of an issue with the courts, but because PG Office lawyer refuse to attend court,” the government official told Sun Online.

Prosecutor General’s Act states that a new person must be appointed to the Prosecutor General post within 30 days from the day the post becomes vacant. President's last nomination, prominent lawyer Maumoon Hameed, was rejected by the parliament on 14 April.

Deputy Prosecutor General Hussain Shameem, who resigned Monday afternoon, has been heading the Prosecutor General’s Office since the departure of PG Ahmed Muizzu on 25 November last year.