The opposition coalition asserted that leader of Jumhoory Party (JP) and lawmaker of Maamigilli Constituency Qasim Ibrahim was arrested on Thursday over false allegations and declared that they will not back down from the government.
Police arrested Qasim with a court order issued by the Criminal Court over Qasim’s alleged attempt to bribe parliamentarians in connection with the motion of no confidence that was recently taken against parliamentary speaker Abdulla Maseeh.
Speaking at a press conference held at the main activity hub of JP late Thursday, the minority leader of parliament, Hinnavaru MP Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, said that Qasim’s arrest shows that the government has run out of options and that it has already lost the motions of no confidence against the speaker and deputy speaker of the parliament.
Highlighting that Qasim’s investigation is against constitutional procedures, Deputy Leader of JP and former Police Commissioner, Kinbidhoo MP Abdulla Riyaz, added that the investigation is being carried out without any involvement of the allotted Serious and Organised Crimes investigative department.
Noting that Qasim has provided notable social services to the nation, Former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom’s lawmaker son Faris Maumoon called for the immediate release of Qasim Ibrahim.
Deputy Leader of religiously conservative Adhaalath Party, Ali Zahir, also claimed that Qasim’s arrest is an attempt by the government to influence the upcoming no-confidence motion against the deputy speaker of Parliament.
The joint opposition also assured that they will not step back in their efforts to bring reform to the country.
Meanwhile, the National Councils of Jumhoory Party and main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) have passed resolutions to go for Direct Action over Qasim’s arrest.
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