Will not support Yameen again "even if chopped up and fed to the crows", says Qasim
Qasim Ibrahim is the founder of Villa Shipping and Trading Company
Qasim Ibrahim
Jumhooree Party (JP) leader and tycoon Qasim Ibrahim has said that he will not go back to President Abdulla Yameen even if he is “chopped up and fed to the crows while hung upside down”.
He made the comment in an interview to 'Mihaaru Online'.
In the interview, the MP for Maamigilli constituency confirmed that he has once again withdrawn his support for the President, and urged all those who had voted for President Yameen to take back their support.
Qasim said that he previously did not that President Yameen was “such a person”, highlighting that he regrets backing him in the 2013 presidential elections.
He also touched up on the decision to freeze the bank accounts of Villa Shipping and Trading on Wednesday, saying that the only thing he received from supporting the current government “is deceit.”
READ MORE: Accounts of Villa Group frozen
On Wednesday, Maldives Inland and Revenue Authority (MIRA) informed Villa Group that its bank accounts have been frozen, because of failure to pay an amount owed to the State.
“There is no point in supporting someone who isn’t grateful for what they have. This government is not run with a good intention,” said Qasim.
He added, “let me make it clear, I will not join Yameen’s side, even if they hang me upside down, chop me up and feed to the crows.”
Attacks on businesses
Qasim with former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom
This is not the first time that authorities have directed their attacks towards Qasim’s businesses.
Back in 2015, Villa Group’s accounts were frozen after Qasim joined the opposition temporarily.
While he has remained out of the public-eye since then, earlier this week, Qasim called on all defecting members of the opposition return “to fix the nation’s problems.”
As soon as he made a public appearance criticizing President Yameen and his government, Court hearings over Thaa Elaa contract dispute were reconvened and carried in a rush, with the High Court overturning a lower court ruling in favour of Villa, and declaring that government’s cancellation the agreement was lawful.
