Jumhooree Party (JP)’s leader Qasim Ibrahim has revealed that prominent members of the ruling Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) had “tried to join JP”.

In an interview to VTV on Saturday, Qasim denied claims that he has been forced to take a step back from the political scene, ‘due to his businesses going bankrupt’.

Noting that “these are blatant lies,” the JP leader said that Fonadhoo constituency MP Abdul Raheem Abdulla, Villimalé constituency MP Ahmed Nihan, Nilandhoo constituency MP Abdulla Khaleel and Kelaa constituency MP Ali Arif are “puppets” of incumbent President Abdulla Yameen.

Qasim said that they direct their criticisms towards him on the President’s orders, adding that “they have told me this before”.

Citing Abdul Raheem, Nihan, Khaleel and Arif, Qasim said that they had told him that they do not want to stay in PPM “because of President Yameen” and that have been requesting to join JP “for days”.

Noting that the party did not accept their memberships, Qasim said JP “already has a number of members that are much better than them”.

He added that he will never stay in an administration that is purposely harming the people, and that he will not stop his work in the reform movement.