Yameen visits PNF office as membership drive begins

Former President Abdullah Yameen, who is serving an 11-year prison sentence in the MMPRC corruption scandal, on Sunday resumed political activities at the office of his newly formed People's National Front (PNF). The corrections department has already warned that if he participates in political activities, his house arrest may have to be lifted.

While under house arrest, Yameen started attending meetings and speaking at meetings. On 1st of this month, the corrections warned him that if he repeated it, the concessions would be lifted.

Yameen, who has been away from political activities since then, has returned to the PNF office with the establishment of the office on Sunday evening. Former minister Maleeh Jamal, who worked closely with Yameen to form the PNF, related live, in posts on X that Yameen was in the office where the party is being formed.

Maleeh released photos showing Yameen sitting with his senior lawyer Dr Mohammed Jameel Ahmed. 

After Yameen announced last Thursday that he was working on forming a new party, the party's constitution, logo and name have been determined on the same day. The party's name was announced on Saturday and it was scheduled to submit an application to the Election Commission (EC) on Sunday for permission to form the party.

On Sunday, the party formation application was not submitted because of the need to clear the criminal record of the party’s founder.

Speaking to the media after the EC meeting, former minister Maleeh Jamal, who is spearheading the running of the party, said on Sunday that the forms will be submitted as soon as the record is clear, and that he hopes to get permission to form the party within 24 hours.

With that, he said, the process of recruiting members will begin as soon as possible.