Shakeel tells committee he resigned from EC due to lack of an independent working environment, and would resign again if needed

Hajj Corporation Managing Director Mohamed Shakeel says he resigned from the Elections Commission (EC) at the time because he encountered matters he found unacceptable and felt there was no environment in which he could carry out his responsibilities independently. He added that he would resign again if such a situation were to arise in the future.

The President nominated Shakeel on the 9th of this month to fill the vacant seat on the commission. His name was forwarded to the Independent Institutions Committee for review a week later, on Monday.

During Monday’s committee meeting, members asked Shakeel to explain the reason behind his resignation from the EC.

Responding to the committee, Shakeel said he stepped down after hearing about “matters he found unacceptable” within the commission while serving as a member. He said his conscience did not allow him to continue in an environment where he could not work freely.

“Now and in the future, if such a situation arises, I will resign again,” he said.

Shakeel previously served as Director General of the National Bank BML and later as Director General of the Elections Commission. He was appointed as an EC member on December 3, 2014, and resigned on May 9, 2018.

After leaving the EC, he went on to serve as State Minister for Economic Affairs. He is currently the Managing Director of the Maldives Hajj Corporation.

The EC seat became vacant following the resignation of Commission Chairman Mohamed Zahid on May 1 last year. The reason for Zahid’s resignation has not been disclosed.