Jumhoory Party’s leader Qasim Ibrahim denied accusations by government aligned lawmakers that the opposition coalition is working to stage a coup and topple the administration.
Speaking at a joint opposition parliamentary group meeting held at Jumhoory Party’s main hub late Wednesday, the lawmaker of Maamigili constituency declared that he will never violate the Constitution or bring about a coup. He made the remark to counter ruling Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM)’s accusations that several lawmakers of the ruling party recently left after being lured by Qasim’s wealth.
MP Qasim focused his talk mainly on the government’s use of the judiciary for political purposes. Referring to the constitutional case submitted to the top court by Attorney General Mohamed Anil seeking to oust lawmakers from their seats should they leave their registered political parties or shift to another party, Qasim expressed confidence that the Supreme Court will not issue a verdict that violates Constitution.
He attributed his confidence to the Supreme Court’s verdict in 2012, when the court ruled against ousting councillors from their seats if they changed political parties after being elected.
Describing the move as an act of drama by the Attorney General, MP Qasim pointed out that lawmakers had shifted political parties in the past as well. Highlighting that some members of the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) and Jumhoory Party have joined PPM, he demanded why the AG had not taken similar actions then.
Qasim stated that the recent development of several PPM lawmakers resigning from the ruling party ensued from their continued grievances with PPM’s policies and actions.
Meanwhile, the state is pressing three charges against Qasim for attempted bribery, coercion with regards to official duties and undue influence on voters in connection to the previous motion of no confidence submitted by the opposition against the parliament speaker. The Prosecutor General’s Office resubmitted the case Wednesday after the Criminal Court threw it out last Monday when the prosecution did not turn up for the hearing. The court has accepted the resubmission and forwarded Qasim the notice of the trial.
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