Jumhooree Party leader Qasim Ibrahim has said that he will ‘not repeat the mistake’ of disbanding the Joint Opposition, the coalition his party is in.

Qasim said at a Jumhooree Party council meeting on Sunday, after contesting for the party’s leadership position that he held before being sentenced on criminal charges, that there is much the coalition needs to accomplish together.

In this regard, Qasim said that a new government needs to be formed and that the ideals for which the coalition campaigned need to be upheld.

The party leader further said that the Jumhooree Party has no intention of disrupting the allegiance between parties and that they will remain committed to the coalition’s unity.

“The days to come will be difficult. It is not as easy to maintain a government, as it is to win an election. We must persevere”, Qasim said.

The Jumhooree Party is among four other parties that formed a coalition against incumbent President Abdulla Yameen.