Nasheed calls on President to quit harassing political figures
Officers raided the residence of JP leader Qasim Ibrahim, as well as offices under his name on Sunday
Nasheed said police raid on Qasim’s “home and offices is unacceptable"
Leader of the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), former President Mohamed Nasheed has called on President Abdulla Yameen to stop harassing political figures.
The former President made the comment via his official twitter account on Sunday evening, after officers from Maldives Police Service (MPS) raided the residence of opposition Jumhooree Party (JP) leader Qasim Ibrahim, as well as offices under his name.
He said that police raid on Qasim’s “home and offices is unacceptable,” calling on President Yameen to “cease this illegal political harassment”.
READ MORE: Police search properties owned by Qasim Ibrahim
At around 3 pm on Sunday, officers entered Qasim’s residence and offices under a court order. According to the order, which was signed by Criminal Court Judge Abdul Baaree Yoosuf, Qasim Ibrahim is accused of trying to sway a vote in parliament, offering bribes to parliamentarians, and attempting to overthrow a legally elected government, as well as encouraging dissent within the Armed Forces and spread discord within the society.
The court order allows police the authority to remove everything that is believed to be related to the case.
Qasim was released on April 12 after what he described as “a six-day scholarship”. He was arrested on April 6, over the same allegations and issued a six-day remand. High Court, on April 12, ruled for the JP leader to be released from detention, noting that MPS had acted against its jurisdiction in requesting the Criminal Court to issue a warrant for Qasim’a arrest.
His legal team has said that the High Court order proves that “everything that followed, including the evidence collected during his arrest are void”.
Qasim has been charged with bribery, abuse of power and influencing voters, and a preliminary hearing was held on April 13.
