The Indian Ocean island nation made the nomination of former president of the Maldives Human Rights Commission after Dhiyana Saeed tendered resignation some one month ago following her public condemnation of the ‘unconstitutional’ arrest of Criminal Court´s Chief Judge Abdulla Mohamed. She was accused of violating the principles enshrined in the SAARC charter. [break]
Dhiyana, who was the first woman SAARC Secretary General, had served only 11 months of her three-year term. The newly-appointed Saleem will get chance to serve for the remaining two years starting March 1.
SAARC Nepal Director Niranjan Man Singh Basnet confirmed the nomination of Saleem as new Secretary General. "The Maldivian government has sent a copy of the letter it sent to respective foreign ministries of all eight SAARC member countries on his nomination today," he said. "All eight SAARC countries need to endorse the nomination now."
Officials at SAARC Secretariat in Kathmandu said newly appointed Saleem is likely to take charge starting March 1 given all the SAARC countries endorse the name on time. It will be Nepal’s turn to head SAARC Secretariat after the term of Saleem expires on March, 2014.
Related story
Maldives names Ahmed Saleem as new Secy General
