COLOMBO (News 1st) – Leader of the Sri Lankan Muslim Congress (SLMC) Rauff Hakeem and the former MPs of the SLMC returned to the island this morning (November 11) following their visit to Mecca to perform Umrah.

Former parliamentarians Faizal Cassim, Ali Zahir Maulana, M.I.M Mansoor, H.M.M Haris, A.L.M Nazeer, and M.S.Thawufeek were among the group that returned to the island this morning.

Speaking to the media Rauf Hakeem said that a huge portion of the country was expecting that their party will be used as pawns in order to achieve their targets. He continued to say that they were able to act on their self-conscience because the president does not have the right to use his executive powers to misinterpret the law adding that a case will be taken to courts tomorrow (November 12).

In response to an inquiry by a journalist about the SLMC’s plans for the upcoming general election, Hakeem stated that they will be contesting independently because the present government is illegal.