Parliament Speaker and ruling PNC’s chairperson Abdul Raheem Abdulla’s twin brother, Abdul Kareem Abdulla’s two children have been dismissed from government posts following his decision to contest for L. Fonadhoo Council presidency in the upcoming Local Council Election as an independent candidate.
Ruling PNC is backing Ahmed Riyaz, who served as the Fonadhoo Council president for the past three terms, for the post in April’s Local Council Election. Kareem, who is visually impaired, announced his decision to contest in the Local Council Election independently on January 1st.
Speaking with Sun on Friday, Kareem said his two children have been dismissed from their government posts. In this regard, he detailed Fathimath Dhunya Abdul Kareem who was serving as a political director at the Foreign Ministry, was dismissed on Wednesday while Aalim Abdul Kareem, who was serving as a cashier at the WAMCO branch in Funadhoo, was dismissed from his post on Thursday.
Kareem attributed their dismissal to his decision to contest in the election.
Responding to questions about running against the PNC while his brother holds a senior party post, Kareem said it is his constitutional right to contest in the election. He further said he seeks to send a message via his candidacy: that people with disabilities in the Maldives should not be sidelined.
“That is my purpose. However, they are interpreting this differently. They view this as an attempt to defeat the PNC candidate,” he added.
Kareem’s candidacy form has been accepted by the Elections Commission (EC) and he commenced his campaign.
At present, Kareem works as an Imam at a mosque in Fonadhoo, a post he has held for 19 years.
President Dr. Mohammed Muizzu rose to power with strong backing and cooperation from Abdul Raheem, with the two maintaining a close political alliance from the presidential campaign through the formation of the government and a landslide victory in the parliamentary elections. This relationship was reflected in the appointment of Abdul Raheem’s son, Ibrahim Faisal, as Tourism Minister—one of the most influential cabinet posts—as well as Abdul Raheem’s own appointment as Speaker of Parliament.
However, speculation later emerged that ties between the President and Abdul Raheem had strained. This was followed by the abrupt dismissal of Faisal from the Tourism Ministry, after which Abdul Raheem largely withdrew from active political engagement.
While the PNC is currently leading preparations for the upcoming local council elections, the campaign is being driven by Parliamentary Majority Leader Ibrahim Falaah. In previous election cycles, such efforts were typically led by Abdul Raheem.