Motion submitted to dismiss Waheed from JP, leader refuses to make decision

Following a motion to remove Tourism Minister Ali Waheed from Jumhooree Party (JP), its leader Qasim Ibrahim has said that President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih ‘will make a decision on the matter.’

The motion to remove the minister from JP was submitted following the audio clips leaked, allegedly of him and a state minister at the youth ministry. The voice said to be Waheed, who is also the president of the party, is heard making crude comments against various cabinet ministers, including transport minister and Qasim Ibrahim’s wife, Aishath Nahula.

Police has even launched an investigation into the clips, noting a sexual misconduct issue.

The motion to dismiss Waheed from the party is to have been raised at a closed-door council meeting held on Monday night; RaajjeMV’s attempts to obtain details of the meeting failed.

However, some local media outlets report that the JP leader is to have concluded the matter by saying that the president will make a decision over the leaked audios, as he did not wish to make a decision himself.

While JP has received a motion to remove Waheed and criminal investigation has been launched over the audios, the tourism minister has dismissed the clips as “a hoax.”

Jumhooree Party is part of the ruling coalition, and Waheed was appointed minister under a slot given to the party.