PM assures early appointments at NHRC

Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala has assured the lawmakers that the government would appoint senior officials at the national Human Rights Commission (NHRC) very soon.

During a meeting with the members of the parliamentary committee on human rights at his residence in Baluwatar Tuesday morning, Koirala said consensus among the parties regarding the officials of the NHRC was in the final stage.

The parliamentary committee members had urged Koirala to urgently appoint top officials so that it would be helpful to monitor human rights violations in the country.

The NHRC remains without officials since last one year after the then members resigned en masse due to pressure from the parties who alleged the NHRC officials of supporting the royal regime.

The earlier initiatives of Koirala for appointment failed after two former justices Bishwo Nath Upadhyaya and Kedar Nath Upadhyaya refused to lead the commission stating that the commission would not work independently due to political pressures.

Various national and international human rights bodies have repeatedly urged the government to appoint the members of the commission. However, the parties have failed to reach consensus on the nominations. nepalnews.com ia Aug 20 07