Speaker, 15 PNC MPs travel to Pakistan on private trip

Speaker of Parliament Abdul Raheem Abdulla has travelled to Islamabad, Pakistan, with 15 MPs representing the ruling People’s National Congress (PNC).

The People’s Majlis confirmed that a group of PNC MPs departed for Pakistan on Monday.

A Majlis official, responding to questions about the visit, said it was a private trip by the PNC MPs and that no expenditure from the parliamentary budget would be used to fund it.

The official said the Majlis did not have further details about the visit because it was a private trip.

According to information obtained by Dhauru, 16 MPs, including Abdul Raheem, are taking part in the six-day visit. The group is expected to return on Saturday.

As the Speaker is among those travelling, Abdul Raheem is accompanied by his security detail, according to the report.

The MPs are expected to return to the Maldives via Karachi and Dubai.

Those taking part in the trip are Speaker Abdul Raheem; Baarah MP Ibrahim Shujau, who is also a PNC vice-president; Hulhudhoo MP Mohamed Shahid, a deputy leader of the PNC parliamentary group; Villimalé MP Mohamed Ismail, also a deputy leader of the PNC parliamentary group; Manadhoo MP Husnee Mubarak; Thulusdhoo MP Ibrahim Naseem; Henveiru North MP Ahmed Aifan; Dhuvaafaru MP Mohamed Ali; Funadhoo MP Mohamed Mamdooh; Felidhoo MP Adam Zahir; Guraidhoo MP Hanaan Mohamed Rasheed; Feydhoo South MP Ibrahim Didi; Fuvahmulah North MP Hamad Abdulla; Kulhudhuffushi North MP Mohamed Dawood; Vilufushi MP Hassan Waheed; and Ungoofaaru MP Ibrahim Shifaz.

Ahmed Nihan Hussain Manik, a former MP who currently serves as chief of the Speaker’s Bureau, is also taking part in the trip, according to the report.

The purpose and itinerary of the visit have not been publicly disclosed.

The National Assembly of Pakistan’s schedule for Tuesday lists a meeting of the Pakistan-Maldives Parliamentary Friendship Group at Parliament House in Islamabad.