Parliament OKs former defense chief Abdul Raheem as ambassador to Türkiye; Thaha to Pakistan

Lieutenant General (Retired) Abdul Raheem Abdul Latheef, the country’s former fhief of defense force, has been approved by the Parliament for appointment as the new Maldivian ambassador to Türkiye, while Mohamed Thaha, has been approved for appointment as the new envoy to Pakistan.

President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu asked for parliamentary approval for the appointments – as required under the Foreign Service Act – on May 19. It was sent to the Foreign Relations Committee on June 4. The committee decided that both Abdul Raheem and Thaha were qualified for the posts.

The Parliament took a vote on Sunday, during which both Abdul Raheem and Thaha received approval with a unanimous vote of 82.

Abdul Raheem had been promoted from the role of vice chief of defense force to the role of the chief of defense force on November 17, 2023.

He served the army for 39 years, and received an honorable discharge from military service on April 17, upon reaching 60 years of age.

Meanwhile, Thaha had originally been approved as the new ambassador to Saudi Arabia on May 6. But the president later decided to appoint him to neighboring Pakistan, instead. Thaha had unsuccessfully contested the primary of the main ruling People’s National Congress (PNC) held in January, for the Holhudhoo parliamentary seat.