Top leaders of key ruling parties CPN-UML and Nepali Congress and main opposition CPN(Maoist Centre) met at the Prime Minister’s office in Singhadurbar on Monday to discuss remaining tasks of the peace process, particularly the formation of two key commissions: the Commission for the Investigation of Disappeared Persons and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

The meeting was attended by Prime Minister and UML chair KP Sharma Oli, Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba, and Maoist Centre Chair Pushpa Kamal Dahal. Alongside them, Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak, PM Oli’s expert advisor Agni Kharel, Maoist Centre leader Shakti Basnet, and advisor Khimlal Devkota were also present.

According to Agni Kharel, the meeting involved discussions about the formation of the two commissions, which had been delayed. Kharel confirmed that the meeting reviewed the recommendations made by a search committee earlier for the appointments of the chairpersons and members of these commissions.

The meeting concluded with an agreement among the parties to move forward based on mutual consensus. The process of forming the recommendation committee (search committee) for appointing the commission heads and members will now proceed.

The formation of these commissions, crucial for transitional justice, had stalled after the erstwhile search committee, headed by former chief justice Om Prakash Mishra, failed to announce the names of the appointees by December 16, 2024, following two months of deliberations.

The delay occurred due to intense political pressure and party interference in the selection process, which ultimately led Mishra to step down.