Qasim: Nasheed wanted oust me even if it required mass murder by torching a prison

Jumhoory Party (JP)’s presidential candidate and leader Qasim Ibrahim has accused of Parliament Speaker, former Mohamed Nasheed of conspiring to oust him from his post as the home minister during Nasheed’s administration even if it required torching a prison that could possibly result in mass casualties.

Qasim resigned from his post as the home minister on December 3, 2008, merely 21 days after his appointment, citing lack of funds and cooperation from the government to improve jail conditions.

Speaking regarding his resignation 15 years later, Qasim, on Wednesday, criticized Nasheed and made huge allegations against him as well. In this regard, Qasim said he was made aware of a conspiracy to oust him from his post, which he said was spearheaded by Nasheed.

“He wanted me to take the fall, by creating problems in the prison, torching it, and killing a bunch of people. That is why I resigned on my own,” he said while speaking at a campaign event for the upcoming presidential elections in N. Landhoo.

Qasim said he appealed to Nasheed against following through with this plan approximately four times before his resignation. He added that he backed Nasheed for presidency in 2008 after the latter begged him subsequent to receiving 25 percent of votes.

Qasim said apart from treating him badly, Nasheed had also treated the Maldivian citizens badly during his administration, which he added Nasheed will bear responsibility for in the hereafter.

“He tendered his resignation in the end. Of course, there was pressure from the people and internationally. He was unable to withstand it. That is because he does not know, nor have any experience,” he said.

Qasim proudly stressed there will be no one who does not see him as the individual who undertook the hardest and the costliest efforts to ensure Nasheed’s election. He attributed his resignation from then-president Maumoon Abdul Gayyoom’s government as the biggest factor contributing to Nasheed’s election.

“I am sure, if I stayed in DRP and as the finance minister back then, Maumoon Abdul Gayyoom would have stayed the president that time,” he added.