Nepalese lawmakers approve 3-month extension of interim parliament
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
New Delhi, Aug 31, IRNA -- Averting a major constitutional crisis, Nepalese lawmakers approved the extension of the term of the interim parliament by three months as the House is yet to fulfill its original mandate to draft a new constitution and conclude the landmark 2006 peace process.
Bijay Kumar Gachhadar, the new Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister, tabled the 10th Amendment Bill of Interim Constitution, seeking a three-month extension of the Constituent Assembly, which acts as the interim parliament.
The parliament, which was formed in 2008 after a popular election, has failed to fulfill its main function to conclude the peace process and draft a new constitution though its term was extended twice, the latest on May 29, which is set to expire on August 31.
The previous CPN-UML-led coalition under Jhala Nath Khanal had also decided on a three-month extension of the House.
Maoist ideologue Baburam Bhattarai, who was sworn in as Nepal's new Prime Minister on Wednesday, faces the twin challenge of integrating and rehabilitating over 19,000 former Maoist guerrillas and preparing the first Constitution, two major conditions of the peace deal which ended a decade-long civil war that killed some 16,000 people.
The extension motion was endorsed by a majority vote in the Parliament, pti reported quoting to Rajendra Mahato, president of Terai-based Sadbhawana Party, a key ally of the Maoist-led coalition.
Except for the pro-monarchist Rastriya Prajatantra Party (Nepal), which has four seats in the Parliament, all other parties voted in favour of the extension.
Bhattarai, newly elected Prime Minister has underlined his determination to work to complete the fragile peace process within six months and form a national unity government to bring political stability in the nascent republic.
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Islamic Republic News Agency/IRNA NewsCode: 30544591
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