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Parties sign two-point deal to form commission to investigate gold smuggling cases

As per the agreement, the government will form the panel on September 22. Parties sign two-point deal to form commission to investigate gold smuggling cases

Photo: Courtesy of the Office of the Prime Minister

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Published at : August 23, 2023

Updated at : August 23, 2023 15:21

The national political parties represented in the federal parliament on Wednesday reached a two-point agreement to form a commission to investigate the recent gold smuggling cases.

During a meeting called by Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, leaders of major political parties agreed on forming the investigative committee on September 22 and initiating the inquiry immediately thereafter.

The leaders also agreed on ending the obstruction in both the federal houses. The main opposition CPN-UML was obstructing parliament proceedings for nearly a month demanding formation of the probe panel to investigate the issue.

As per the first point of the agreement, the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB), which has been carrying out the investigation into the recent gold haul, will continue to have the authority to prosecute all those involved in the crime.

An independent and neutral inquiry commission will be formed on September 22 to launch a thorough inquiry into repeated gold smuggling cases, states the second point of the agreement.

The committee will submit a report of recommendations relating to the smuggling of precious metals, improvements and amendments that need to be made to the existing law, and also a report on the investigative process of such cases.

“The government will form a commission on September 22, 2023, in accordance with the Commission of Inquiry Act, 2026 BS (1969) and launch an investigation into the cases immediately,” reads the agreement.

The agreement has been undersigned by Nepali Congress Chief Whip Ramesh Lekhak, CPN-UML Chief Whip Padam Giri, CPN (Maoist Centre) Chief Whip Hitraj Pandey, Rastriya Swatantra Party Chief Whip Santosh Pariyar, Rastriya Prajatantra Party Chief Whip Gyan Bahadur Shahi, Janata Samajbadi Party Chief Whip Pradeep Yadav, and Janamat Party Chief Whip Abdul Khan.

Top leaders from major political parties including Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba and CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli, among others, were also present at the meeting chaired by Prime Minister Dahal.