Adhurey: Leadership absent from Yameen’s gathering due to involvement in Muizzu’s work

PNC’s chairperson Abdul Raheem Abdulla states PPM-PNC’s leadership members were absent from the first gathering held by PPM’s leader, former president Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayyoom since the terms of his home confinement were relaxed as they engaged in works of president elect Dr. Mohamed Muizzu.

Leadership members of PPM-PNC met with the press ahead of departing to Addu City earlier today. During the meeting, PNC’s chairperson Abdul Raheem said the night of the gathering coincided with the night of Muizzu’s departure to Singapore.

Therewith, he said leadership members of both parties had gone to see off Muizzu at the airport.

“That night, we had gone to see of the president elect,” he said.

PPM’s Deputy Leader Ahmed Shiyam had been present at the start of the gathering, however, left shortly afterwards.

Abdul Raheem said Shiyam left the gathering after informing Yameen that he was going to the airport. He also stressed that the leadership had no intention of not participating in any event attended by Yameen.

“We did not, by any means, do it with the intention of not participating in an event attended by Yameen,” he had said.

Abdul Raheem reiterated that Muizzu was the candidate endorsed by Yameen, adding PPM and PNC are parties with the same ideology.

Criticism had sparked after PPM-PNC leadership failed to participate in events attended by Yameen. The leadership also remains silent on Maldives Correctional Service’s threat to cancel the agreement with Yameen, relaxing the terms of his confinement.

Yameen was sentenced to 11 years in prison for money laundering and bribery charges in connection to the sale of V.Aarah on December 26, 2022.

He was transferred from his cell in Maafushi Prison to his home in Male’ City on October 1 – a day after PPM-PNC’s presidential candidate Dr. Mohamed Muizzu won the Maldivian presidential election.

On Friday, Correctional Service eased the terms of Yameen’s confinement, allowing him to leave his home for medical care related purposes.

And on Monday, the service said that it had granted additional easements, that extended to Yameen being allowed to leave home for exercise, and to meet people that he “absolutely” wishes to – after giving prior notice to the service.

With the decision, Yameen started getting actively involved in politics, attending and addressing gatherings at the PPM headquarters on Sunday, and again, on Monday.