Majlis accepts motion to remove Wadde from Clemency Board

People’s Majlis has accepted the motion pressed by Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) to remove the member of Clemency Board appointed to it on behalf of People’s Majlis – Thulusdhoo MP Mohamed Waheed Ibrahim (Lawyer Wadde), sending it to National Security Committee for evaluation.

The motion was accepted with the vote of 43 lawmakers; while 25 lawmakers voted against accepting the motion.

The motion was pushed by PPM after the decision was made during the Parliamentary Group meeting held by the party on Wednesday.

Submitting the motion, Kelaa MP Ali Arif said that Wadde had not attended 67 percent of Clemency Board meetings. And that it was the responsibility of the People’s Majlis to remove its member if he did not attend the meetings, and instate someone who will attend meetings.

Arif said that they wanted to remove Wadde from the Clemency Board not because he was incapable, but because he had been absent to 67 percent of its meetings.

The PPM lawmakers who debated on the motion all repeated that they did not question his capability, but was concerned over his attendance.

Wadde said that if attendance was the issue, it was better if People’s Majlis looked into the attendance of the President of Clemency Board, Attorney General Mohamed Anil.

The move to remove Wadde from Clemency Board comes amid intense infighting within PPM, with the party divided into two factions – faction of PPM’s Leader, former Maldivian President

Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, and faction of current Maldivian President, Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom.

Wadde belongs to Maumoon’s faction.