Tapendra Karki

The CIAA has moved the Supreme Court seeking the annulment of Special Court orders that granted nominal bail and regular attendance to defendants in the Rs 8.36 billion PRIA corruption case, arguing the decisions undermine justice and weaken prosecution.

The government’s move to withdraw money laundering and organised crime cases against Rabi Lamichhane has alarmed legal experts, who warn that a person-centric approach could weaken similar prosecutions nationwide and pose a serious threat to the rule of law.

The assessment emerged from a series of province-level security coordination meetings held by the MoHA across the country. The final meeting, held in Madhesh Province on Tuesday, brought the nationwide review process to a close.

Their call for a “reformed Nepali Congress” drew visible momentum as around 30 central committee (CC) members who had previously broken ranks with the establishment faction joined the convention.

The Central Committee meeting began on Saturday as the government pushes to hold elections, coinciding with the Nepali Congress’s special general convention starting Sunday. During the meeting, UML Chairperson KP Sharma Oli described democracy as being in crisis. 

Through the 33-page Inter-Party Directive–1 (Circular), which outlines the party’s internal direction and future course, UML committees have been told to prepare for protests should elections fail to take place.

During the Gen Z movement on September 9, a staggering 14, 555 prisoners serving sentences for various crimes broke free from prisons across the country. Security experts fear that some of these escapees could be used to destabilize the electoral process.

The CPN-UML has kicked into full election mode for March 5, forming committees, recommending candidates, and planning a nationwide campaign despite pending legal challenges.

The NCP had sought four of the 18 National Assembly seats, but sources say it withdrew after the NC–UML alliance agreed to offer only three. While pulling out, the NCP said discussions on a possible equation could continue until the eve of voting.

DoI moves toward a more systematic, tech-driven approach