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Advocates of Jumhooree Party leader captive at Criminal Court

The defending lawyers of Villa head and Jumhooree Party leader Qasim Ibrahim, Hisaan Hussain and Nooru-salaam Aboobakur were held captive inside Criminal Court on Thursday.

According to Hussain Shameem, lawyer and member of Qasim Ibrahim's advocate team stated both Hisaan and Noor were prohibited from exiting the Criminal Court premises when they had attended the court on Thursday regarding a tabled hearing. Shameem described both lawyers being "under seige" of Criminal Court's administration.

Meanwhile the Jumhooree Party leader was rushed into Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital on Thursday after he abruptly fainted while awaiting to enter for his trial at Criminal Court. At the time of the incident, his lawyers were not present with him.

IGMH had urged the immediate transfer of Qasim to foreign for medical emergency. However due to his passport in possession of state, he is refrained from traveling abroad to seek the needed medical attention.

Following Thursday's incident with Qasim, court had not issued schedule for the next hearing.

While Qasim's trial had the final hearing tabled for Thursday's afternoon, a hearing of his case took place in morning as well as Wednesday. Should he be found guilty of the charges pressed against, Qasim will serve a jail sentence of 3 years and 2 months.

Qasim's hearing at Criminal Court has proceeded in full discretion throughout.