Gasim after meeting PPM leaders urges fair trial for Yameen

Jumhooree Party (JP) leader and presidential candidate Gasim Ibrahim on Tuesday criticised the government and demanded a fair trial for former president Abdulla Yameen.

Opposition PPM-PNC leaders met Gasim on Tuesday. In a tweet after the meeting, Gasim spoke in favour of the PPM-PNC presidential candidate Yameen, who is facing obstacles to contest the presidential election following an 11-year jail sentence handed down by the Criminal Court last year.

"One of the purposes of the constitution is to establish freedom, fairness and justice and ensure the fundamental rights and freedoms of the people," he tweeted.

The rights guaranteed by the constitution should be enjoyed by every citizen, the Maamigili MP said. However, he questioned whether the government was ensuring those rights.

“It is a fundamental right under the constitution today to have a fair trial, whether it is President Yameen or any other citizen. It is also a human right,” he said.

Gasim said the rights should be ensured for everyone without delay.

After his meeting with PPM-PNC leaders at Sun Island Resort, Gasim tweeted a photo of himself and a meaningful song. The four-minute song summarises that he is ready to sacrifice his life in defence of the country. Along with nationalism and religion, the song also talks about bringing Gasim to power.

Gasim's call for a fair trial for Yameen comes as PPM-PNC leaders went to the High Court on Tuesday to express their concerns over the delays in the appeal hearings over Yameen's sentence. The High Court says the appeal hearings are on hold as one of the judges on the bench hearing the appeal is on leave.

The opposition wants the High Court to expedite the appeal because if the court overturns the lower court verdict, Yameen will be able to contest the September 9 presidential election.