The National Council of the Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM-in power) issued a statement on Saturday, distancing itself from two of its members, namely Said Naciri and Abdenabi Bioui, currently prosecuted while in custody for links to the Sahara Escobar Affair.
Hadj Ahmed Ben Ibrahim or the Malian, AKA the Sahara Escobar, is a drug baron who had been running a multi-million drug trafficking ring spanning several African and Latin American countries. The drug lord, who was also involved in money laundering via the purchase of properties and real estates all over the territories where he was operating his illicit business, was arrested at Casablanca airport in 2019 and was sentenced to 10 years-plus at the El Jadida prison.
The PAM party was adamant in emphasizing that the political formation will not be a refuge or haven to anyone breaking the law.
“The Party is closely monitoring the situation as two of its members are being investigated,” said the statement, referring to Naciri who is also president of Wydad Football Club (WAC) and Bioui who is President of the Eastern Regional Council.
PAM said that it is awaiting official results upon the completion of the probe, conducted by the relevant judicial authorities. It also said that both officials suspended their party membership and informed the political bureau of their decision.
The Party said that it is operating within the law and has not made any move, implicitly or explicitly, that could be interpreted as interference in the course of this lawsuit.
“Party affiliation is not a privilege and does not give immunity against accountability,” it reiterated, saying that everyone is equal before the law.
It concluded by reaffirming its trust in the professionalism and neutrality of the judiciary and security institutions.