JP leader against celebrating Yameen's arrest

Jumhooree Party (JP)’s leader, Qasim Ibrahim is against celebrating the arrest of former President Abdulla Yameen.

While Qasim is one of the ruling coalition leaders that worked to remove Yameen from power, he has warned his party members from celebrating the arrest. Criminal Court ordered to keep the former president in remand, until the trial in the money laundering charges against him concludes.

RaajjeMV understands that JP was to hold a celebration at the party headquarters on Monday night. While a council member had sent this to a party Whatsapp group, Qasim is to have said that doing so will not be the smartest thing.

“Celebrating what? Doing any thing to celebrate President Yameen’s arrest, at Kunooz or anywhere under JP’s name, will not be smart,” said Qasim.

Qasim was arrested and jailed during Yameen’s presidency, after being found guilty of bribery. While he was sentenced to three years in jail on 25th August 2017, the verdict was issued while he was admitted at hospital after having collapsed outside court earlier that day. While he was granted medical leave shortly after, he sought refuge in Germany and only returned to Maldives after Yameen’s defeat in the presidential elections. Qasim’s son, Siyad was also detained, for allegedly bribing Chief of Justice Abdulla Saeed and former Supreme Court Judge Ali Hameed.

However, Qasim and JP have been unhappy with main ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) for choosing to run in all constituencies in April’s parliamentary election, and are to form a coalition with “other parties.”

According to reports, this includes the opposition which is being led by Yameen.

While JP is yet to confirm this, the opposition coalition- Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) and People’s National Congress (PNC)- have called for Qasim to join them.

At a press conference held on Monday, PNC’s president Abdul Raheem Abdulla said Yameen is being treated “unfairly” and that Qasim will not just sit idly by.