The CPN-UML, at its central committee meeting that concluded on Friday, drew the conclusion that the HLPC has been losing its relevance in particular after its move to recommend Lok Man Singh Karki as head of the Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA).[break]
CPN-UML leaders argued that the HLPC has come under question as it did not review its decision on Karki even after two of its four constituent parties repeatedly demanded such a revision.
"The HLPC´s procedural rules clearly state that every decision to be taken by the body will be taken in consensus," CPN-UML Spokesman Pradeep Gyawali explained at a press meet at party headquarters, Balkhu on Saturday, responding to a query as to why the party raised such a question. "But on the Karki row the body didn´t review its decision even after strong objections from two major political parties -- CPN-UML and Nepali Congress."
NC President Sushil Koirala and CPN-UML Chairman Jhalanath Khanal, who represent their respective parties in the HLPC, had initially agreed to Karki´s name, but they later backed out in the face of strong objections from within and outside their parties.
"It is already public knowledge that our party realized its leadership had at first committed a mistake but later it had decided institutionally to correct the mistake and accordingly drew the attention of the HLPC, the chairman of the interim election council and the president," said a statement read out by Gyawali in the presence of Khanal and other top leaders. "Therefore, our party denounced the decision taken to appoint Karki despite strong objections from our party, civil society and other political parties."
While conceding that he and Koirala had initially agreed to Karki´s name, Khanal explained that their efforts subsequently to correct it were futile. "We had been pushing for a correction and the issue was under discussion, but in the meantime Karki was sworn in all of a sudden."
The party also concluded that the country´s national interests had come under serious threat, so much so that it had now reached alarming proportions.
"There were weaknesses we couldn´t sense and we couldn´t foil various designs by foreign forces over various crucial issues ranging from dissolution of the constituent assembly to the appointment of Karki as CIAA head," said the statement. "The central committee meeting has realized that it is time for introspection on such weaknesses."
The party also criticized the government for failing to make satisfactory progress in connection with preparations for elections even though the parties had agreed to form a technocratic government under the chief justice despite strong protests.
The UML has reiterated that the proposed provisions on one-percent threshold for proportional representation seats in the new constituent assembly and on setting conditions for filing candidacy should be introduced during the coming elections.
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