JP Leader Qasim Ibrahim and member of his lawyers team MP Waheed PHOTO:Nishan Ali/Mihaaru
Jumhoory Party (JP)’s leader Qasim Ibrahim has been summoned back to Maldives Police Service after being accused of allegedly bribing parliament members.
According to a member of his legal team, Mohamed Waheed Ibrahim, Qasim was first informed to present himself at Police headquarters at 9 p.m. Saturday night but was later postponed to 4 p.m. Sunday.
Qasim was summoned to Police last Thursday as well. After his interrogation, Qasim told the press that he was interrogated regarding his earlier public promise of additional allowances to all lawmakers that voted in favour of the no confidence motion against Parliament Speaker Abdulla Maseeh.
Speaking at the rally held by the joint opposition coalition last Sunday, Qasim had urged lawmakers to vote against Speaker Maseeh, promising to provide electoral tickets and back the four opposition parties to enable their lawmakers to run for another term. According to Qasim, these parties include Jumhoory Party, religiously conservative Adhaalath Party, main opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) and lawmakers of ruling Progressive Party of Maldives (PPM) that vote against Maseeh.
Qasim remarked that as he was referring to the lawmakers of these allied parties, his statement can be interpreted in various ways.
Meanwhile, his lawyer lawmaker of Thulusdhoo constituency Mohamed Waheed Ibrahim said on Thursday night that the investigation regarding the accusation has been completed and that Police have assured that Qasim would not be summoned to headquarters over it again.