The government on Sunday brought an ordinance to grant clemency for Nagarik Unmukti Party (NUP) leader Resham Chaudhary and other rebels.
A cabinet meeting held at Baluwatar today brought the ordinance to provide clemency for Chaudhary and others, a minister privy to the meeting said.
According to the minister, the ordinance was created through the amendment of clause 116 of the Criminal Code 2017 which has a provision of clemency for rebels.
"The government has decided to implement the past agreement regarding the political party litigation through the amendment of clause 116 of the Criminal Code 2017 with a provision of clemency for rebels," the Minister told Nepalkhabar, adding, "The implementation process will be carried forward in such a way that it will not set a precedent for similar liable cases in future."
The coalition government brought the ordinance to facilitate inclusion of Nagarik Unmukti Party that won three House of Representatives (HoR) seats under the First-Past-The-Post (FPTP) electoral system in the next government. The party registered under leadership of Chaudhary's wife Ranjeeta Shrestha has been putting his release as a pre-condition to join the government.
Once the ordinace comes into force, the ordinance will facilitate the release of Resham Chaudhary, one of the main accused of the Kailali incident in which eight police personnel including an SSP of Nepal Police and a toddler were brutally lynched on August 24, 2015.
Similarly, it will also help withdrawal of cases against leaders and cadres of Janamat Party led by CK Raut and Netra Bikram Chand-led CPN despite the two parties signing peace agreement with the then KP Sharma Oli government.
The ordinance will come into force once it is authenticated by President Bidya Devi Bhandari.
Janamat Party has won five HoR seats including one through FPTP system and four through the Proportional Representation (PR) electoral system in the recent election.
The Kailali District Court had slapped life sentence on Chaudhary over the Tikapur incident and the Dipayal High Court endorsed the life sentence. The case is currently sub judice at the Supreme Court (SC).
Chaudhary has been serving prison term at Dilli Bazar Jail after surrendering before the Kailali District Court on February 26, 2018.
The ruling coalition is making preparations to bring NUP and Janamat Party into the government. The central committee meetings of the two parties have also decided to join the government.
