The leadership of the People's National Congress (PNC) held a panel discussion on Sunday to criticize former President Abdulla Yameen, his family and close associates as he attempts to form a new party after leaving the ruling coalition when the new government took office.
There was no specific topic at the panel discussion but the participants mainly focused on Yameen and his allies.
PNC Chairperson Abdul Raheem Abdulla, Fisheries Minister Ahmed Shiyam, Male' city councillor Ibrahim Shujau, Eydhafushi MP Ahmed Saleem, Local Government Minister Adam Shareef and Housing Development Corporation (HDC) Managing Director Fazul Rasheed were part of the panel.
Most of the panelists claimed that the PNC leadership remained sincerely loyal to Yameen and accused his present senior aides such as former Vice President Dr. Mohamed Jameel Ahmed and Maleeh Jamal of plotting to trick Yameen.
It was the members of the current PNC leadership who "forced" the previous government to release Yameen to house arrest and each of them separately called former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, Shujau said.
Nearly all of the questions from PNC Spokesperson Heena Waleed, who hosted the panel discussion, were also aimed at Yameen.
Adam Shareef, who contested for the PNC presidential ticket, alleged collusion between some members of Yameen's legal team and the previous government.
"The way President Yameen is working now, President Yameen needs to work further. Would he really find a political future if he moves forward as he is doing right now?" Adam Shareef asked.
Characterizing those closest to Yameen as disloyal, PNC Chairperson Abdul Raheem also questioned the loyalty of Yameen's wife Fathmath Ibrahim and son Zein Abdulla Yameen.
"I raise questions today about why Madam Fathun didn't attend a single protest when President Yameen was in jail for all those days. Why didn't Zein come to a single protest? Shouldn't we raise questions about this?" Abdul Raheem said.
