Year later, Imran’s appeal remains unfulfilled

Home minister Imran Abdulla's appeal a year ago for state leaders and politicians to stay away from drug networks was reiterated once again in parliament on Tuesday. However, he did not mention any action plan against such high profile drug peddlers.

Speaking to the media at an event held in K. Dhoonidhoo in December 2021 to eliminate drugs, the minister said that the politicians involved in the drug trade as well as the local businessmen involved in it are known and warned them to move away from the business on their own.

Imran reiterated the remarks in response to a question raised by MNP MP from Thimarafushi constituency Abdulla Riyaz.

Riyaz, a former police commissioner, said many prisoners who have been jailed for drug trafficking have been released after the punishment was commuted and released as per the provisions of the law.  "We have received information that it happened due to the involvement and knowledge of minister Imran," Riyaz said.

Imran said he had no role in diluting the punishment for those involved in drug and gang crimes. Imran also said that no one will be allowed to "relief" through him.

"Gangs and drug trafficking issues are not something I will leave unattended. I will not bow down in front of anyone involved in it. I assure you all with utmost conviction," Imran said in response to Riyaz's question.

Noting that he has been working with the police to tackle the drug menace, the prime minister said, "We are also studying further major cases that have taken place recently." However, refusing to go into details, he reiterated what he had said at an anti-drug event in December 2021.

"Some politicians, businessmen and heads of institutions in the country are involved in major drug networks [I said that day]. I would like to say even today that while my work continues, if I catch up with any of them, I will not back down. I strongly urge everyone to be careful about it," Imran said.

"All of them  need to step back! I believe everyone will hear this. I'm not going to back off. But all of them have to step back."

In his earlier statement, Imran did not mention that state officials and institutional heads were involved in the drug trade. But on Tuesday, after having made such a statement, he did not follow up with detail or proof.

"Any head of the state indulging in such an act would be a great loss to this state. We all need to be careful about this. Otherwise, this country is not safe," Imran said.

It is noteworthy that in November last year, a person sentenced to 25 years in prison for drug trafficking was pardoned by the Clemency Board and pardoned by President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih.

The government has maintained that no one has been pardoned for violating a law. While it has been said that it is being done as per rules, the government has not revealed much.