Parliamentary Committee on Independent Institutions has given members of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) five days to respond before the committee begins work to dismiss the members.
The committee informed the ACC members via letter after the Parliament of the Maldives requested the committee to begin proceedings to dismiss the members.
The committee's performance audit report on the ACC was heard on the parliament floor at the extraordinary sitting held on December 16. The report states the efforts of the commission have not met expectations and the members have failed to work towards fulfilling its mandate. The parliamentary regulations dictate the committee is required to review a motion to dismiss members of an independent institution and send a performance audit report to the floor.
The parliament members will then vote on approving the report and request the committee to begin proceedings to dismiss the members. Afterward, the committee is required to interview members in person or via writing, choose which members to dismiss, and send its report to the parliament members.
Three days after sending the report, a two-hour debate will be held on the floor, after which the members will vote on dismissing the members.
Members of ACC Ali Ashraf and Ibrahim Shakeel resigned after the committee began conducting the performance audit on the commission. Currently, the commission consists of President Mariyam Shiuna, Vice President Fathimath Anoola, and member Aishath Abdulla.
Parliament members representing the opposition have boycotted the extraordinary sitting after claiming that the purpose of dismissing the ACC members is to intimidate independent institutions.
Furthermore, ACC President Shuina has said the commission can only work optimally after major systemic changes are implemented and that any other person who becomes the head of the commission will also need to have the necessary resources and the systemic changes in place to obtain adequate results.