Nasheed won't resign as lawmaker but asks for no-pay

Former Speaker of Parliament and Machangolhi Central Constituency Member Mohamed Nasheed has asked the parliament to grant him no-pay leave for the remaining two months of his tenure.

Nasheed, the first democratically elected president of the Maldives, who has moved to Ghana to serve as the Secretary General of the Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF), sent a letter to Parliament Speaker Mohammed Aslam on Monday making this request.

Nasheed's letter explained that he is currently in Ghana to perform his duties as the first Secretary General of the CVF, and that much progress is underway for his new position.

He had announced his decision to step back from Maldivian politics, but yet retains a parliament seat, from which he has not officially resigned. Nasheed has not attended parliament since late last year.

"The Ghanaian Parliament passed a resolution on the CVF Secretariat in mid-March. Therefore, I believe that with the help of Allah, everything will be arranged soon," Nasheed said in his letter addressed to Aslam.