KATHMANDU, March 6: Nine political parties represented in the House of Representatives (HoR) have pledged to complete the rest of the transitional justice work without delay.

A meeting of the nine parties held at the Prime Minister's Residence in Baluwatar on Sunday evening decided to present the bills related to transitional justice in the current session of parliament to expedite the process. This came in the wake of the Supreme Court (SC) issuing an order to register two petitions that seek to hold Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal in his capacity as head of the former rebel party responsible for the loss of life, damage, and destruction during the Maoist insurgency.

The petitioners, who are victims of the Maoist war, are demanding justice and a thorough investigation into the charges brought against Dahal based on his public statement that he takes responsibility for killing at least 5,000 people. 

Nepali Congress (NC) President Sher Bahadur Deuba, CPN (Maoist Center) Chairman  and Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, Chairman of CPN (United Socialists) Madhav Kumar Nepal, Janata Samajwadi Party Chairman Upendra Yadav, Loktantrik Samajbadi Party Chairman Mahantha Thakur, Socialist Party of Nepal Chairman Baburam Bhattarai, People’s Front Nepal Chairman Chitra Bahadur KC, Nagarik Unmukti Party Chairperson Ranjita Shrestha and Janamat Party Vice Chairman Md. Abdul Khan were among those present in the meeting.

A joint statement issued after the meeting pledged to complete the remaining tasks of the peace process including transitional justice without further delay. Stating that the country is on the brink of the third presidential election for the meaningful implementation of the Constitution of Nepal, the top leaders of the nine parties expressed their united stance on the issue of sustainable peace, good governance, development and prosperity in the country while protecting the Constitution.

It is said that the nine parties have been paying serious attention to the issues raised about transitional justice for some time. The statement mentions that the nine parties are committed to taking the peace process to a logical conclusion in accordance with the Comprehensive Peace Agreement and the spirit of the constitution. "It is well known that some work has been completed in the past by formulating laws and forming commissions on related issues," said the joint statement. "The rest of the work will be completed immediately."

The statement also mentions that the necessary bill to give justice to the victims of the conflict and their families will be presented in the current session of parliament so that it becomes a law according to the decision of the respected Supreme Court and there will be establishment of Truth and Reconciliation Commission and a Commission on Investigation of Disappeared Persons as well as legislation. They have also appealed for the positive role and cooperation of all to bring the common issues of the country as an important agenda to a proper conclusion. 

 
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