Shidhatha Shareef, the former Gender Minister, and President of the Adhaalath Party's Foreign Relations Committee, has formally quit the party.

Shidhatha confirmed her departure from the Adhaalath Party to Frontpage today, stating that she would issue a more detailed statement later in the day.

Rumors that Shidhatha will run for Adhaalath's president appeared earlier this year, ahead of the party's internal elections set for January 23.

However, women were not allowed to run for the positions of President due to party laws and Shidhatha did not run in the elections, and it is unclear why.

Shidhatha held the position of Deputy Minister in the Ministry of Gender during the administrations of former President Dr. Mohamed Waheed Hassan Manik and former President Yameen Abdul Gayyoom.