Speaker Abdulla Maseeh addresses the first sitting of 2017’s third term of the parliament from his elevated seat behind a wooden “wall”, while opposition lawmakers protest and call on him to step down. PHOTO/MAJLIS
The parliament on Tuesday appointed new deputies to the Human Rights Commission of the Maldives (HRCM) and Civil Service Commission (CSC).
Amidst the protests of opposition lawmakers which have become the norm in the latest sittings, the parliament appointed HRCM’s member Mohamed Zahid and CSC’s member Shaheed Mohamed as the vice presidents of their respective commissions.
Zahid’s appointment as HRCM’s deputy was passed with 26 votes in his favour, while 27 lawmakers voted to appoint Shaheed as CSC’s vice president.
Zahid had been the vice president of the first HRCM. He was reappointed to the commission following the resignation of former member Shifag Mufeed in May. In addition to serving on the first HRCM, Zahid has served in government posts for five years. He was last appointed as a deputy minister at the Ministry of Gender and Family.
Meanwhile, Shaheed has been on the CSC since 2015 prior to which he was the director general at the Ministry of Health. He holds a Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree in Medical Science.
Similar to Monday’s sitting, opposition lawmakers did not participate in the vote as they protested in front of Parliament Speaker Abdulla Maseeh’s elevated seat, calling for his resignation. Opposition MPs have been protesting at the parliament, refusing to take part in votes, ever since the parliament had thrown out their last censure motion against the speaker.
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