Haider says renounced British citizenship before cabinet appointment

Housing minister Dr Ali Haider, who was living with his family in the United Kingdom until he was appointed to the cabinet, said on Monday that he has given up his British citizenship. 

Haider was summoned to the National Development and Infrastructure Committee of the Parliament on Monday to clarify the decisions taken by the government regarding the flats allocated under the housing scheme run by the previous government.

At the meeting, Kurendhoo MDP MP Abdul Ghani Abdul Hakeem asked Haider if he had any other country's citizenship.

Haider answered the question, although he said it was outside the housing matter at hand. He said he had renounced his British citizenship.

“That question is not related to the matter at hand, but to clarify, I don't have [any other country's citizenship now]. I don't have it. I’ve let it go”.

The minister's comments come as the parliament's government oversight committee on Monday approved a request to the President's Office to clarify if any of the 22 cabinet ministers appointed by President Mohamed Muizzu has dual citizenship.

According to the constitution, cabinet ministers cannot have the citizenship of any other country.