SLMC agreed to Zahran’s policies before the 2015 General Election: Shibly Farook

Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) had agreed to a policy statement submitted by National Thowheed Jamaat (NTJ) Leader Zahran Hashim to the representatives of five political parties before the 2015 General Election, former SLMC Provincial Councilor Shibly Farook today admitted at the PCoI probing Easter Sunday attacks.

Testifying before the Commission Farook said that the SLMC had agreed to most of the policies Zahran had mentioned in his statement before the 2015 General Election.

Earlier, Secretary to the Alhaj Abdul Jawaadh Alim Waliyyullah Trust, Mohammed Zailan informed the Commission that Zahran had signed agreements with the representatives of five political parties including United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA) and United National Party (UNP) before the 2015 General Election.

He said that representatives who signed the agreement on behalf of the parties are M.L.A.M. Hizbullah (UPFA), Shibly Farook (SLMC), A.L.M. Ruby (UNP), and Abdul Rahman from National Front for Good Governance (NFGG).

The Commissioners then questioned former MP Shibly Farook with regard to visiting Zahran's brother Rilwan at the Kattankudy hospital following a clash between UPFA, NFGG and SLMC supporters after the 2015 General Election.

Responding to the question the witness said that during a clash that occurred on August 21, 2015 four people had been injured and Rilwan was one of them.

Mr. Farook added that on August 22, 2015, former minister Rauff Hakeem and himself visited the four injured persons and the attacked NTJ mosque and hotel in Kattankudy.

"The clash occurred between former Easter Province Governor Hizbullah's supporters and NFGG, UPFA, SLMC supporters. These people had attacked a hotel in Kattankudy and the NTJ mosque. Former Minister Hakeem and myself visited all these places after the clash," the witness said.

The video shown to the witness during the proceedings also revealed that during the visit to the NTJ mosque, former Minister Rauff Hakeem and the witness, had met Zahran Hashim and both parties had a discussion.

"Why did you go to that NTJ mosque earlier?," the Commissioner questioned the witness. The witness was unable to answer that question.

During the testimony, Farook also admitted that a key member attached to Zahran's team, Army Mohideen, had been working under him before the 21st April, 2019 coordinated terror attacks. (Yoshitha Perera)