President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has nominated former High Court Judge Abbas Shareef as the new Prosecutor General. His name has been forwarded to Parliament for approval following the dismissal of former Prosecutor General Hussain Shameem on August 22.
The position was opened for public applications, and Abbas Shareef was one of several candidates who applied. Others included Mariyam Nihaayath, Ahmed Hailam Ali Sameer, Ahmed Yameen, and Ibrahim Ali. The president submitted the candidates in order of priority to Parliament.
As per the Prosecutor General’s Act, a new appointment must be made within 30 days of the position becoming vacant. To meet this deadline, Parliament has scheduled two sessions to address the appointment. In the first session, President Dr. Muizzu’s list of nominees was presented and referred to the Judiciary Committee for further review. The appointment will proceed once the committee completes its review and submits its recommendations to Parliament, followed by a vote. The second session is slated for September 16.
The Judiciary Committee has also called for public feedback on Abbas Shareef's nomination. As part of its due process, the committee allows the public to submit opinions or complaints regarding any candidate. The deadline for submissions is September 16 at 1200hrs. Abbas Shareef will also face an interview that same day, followed by a committee meeting to finalize the review.
Abbas Shareef served as a High Court judge from 2011 to 2015 and holds a law degree from the University of Tasmania. He currently serves as the Legal Secretary at the President’s Office.