Parliament to hold two extraordinary sittings this month

Parliament is scheduled to hold extraordinary sittings out of session to appoint members to the Elections Commission (EC).

Speaking with Sun, Parliament’s majority leader Ibrahim Falah said the extraordinary sittings will be held on January 16^th and January 20^th.

He said the sittings were being held to appoint individuals to vacant posts in independent institutions.

EC seats have become vacant after Ali Nashath and Mohamed Asif who had been serving as the corporation’s vice president and member respective, were dismissed by the Parliament in no-confidence votes in the face of serious allegations of misconduct including creating and selling fake membership applications to political parties.

As such, EC presently comprises of three members: Hassan Zakariyya, Abdul Haseeb Ismail and Dr. Mohamed Zahir.

A member must be appointed to the EC within 60 days of the seat becoming vacant. The Parliament is currently in recess and is scheduled to reconvene for a new session in February.

The extraordinary sitting has been called for as the 60-day timeframe stipulated by the law will expire during the recess period.