EC was notified to take action against Haneefa: ACC

The Anti-Corruption Commission has said that the Elections Commission was notified to take action against its Head of Legal Section Haneefa Khalid.

Sun has come to know that ACC notified the Elections Commission to take action against Haneefa before the Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) and Jumhooree Party (JP) filed complaints against her, when she did something ‘not suitable’ for a person holding a senior post at the Elections Commission, during the parliamentary by-election for Ungoofaaru in which her husband Dr Ahmed Asharaf was a candidate.

President of ACC Hassan Luthfy said that Haneefa Khalid carried out activities ‘not suitable’ for a person in her position via social media during the Ungoofaaru election, following which the Elections Commission was notified by ACC to ‘take action’ against Haneefa.

However, Vice President of Elections Commission Ahmed Fayaz said that he was not aware of such a complaint having been filed by ACC to the Elections Commission.

At a press conference today, he said that Haneefa has been barred from the commission’s work related to the presidential election, until the investigations of the complaints filed against her are completed.

PPM Spokesperson Ahmed Mahloof said that following the highest honour by the State being conferred on former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, Haneefa Khalid tweeted that the award was ‘soaked in blood’.

Mahloof said that public confidence in the Elections Commission might be compromised if a high post in the commission is held by someone who criticises politicians and tweets politically aligned messages.

A case against Haneefa is also being investigated by the Attorney General’s Office, for disrespecting the police.