Opposition Questions Pressure on Anti-Corruption Body by Prime Minister’s Advisors; Government Remains Silent
Image source, Federal Parliament, Nepal
Opposition parties have raised questions regarding pressure exerted by advisors to Prime Minister Walendra Shah ‘Balen’ on officials and staff of the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) amid the passport contract investigation.
During the parliamentary sessions on Friday in both the House of Representatives and the National Assembly, opposition MPs accused the government of intervening in the autonomy of constitutional bodies.
Officials from the Department of Passports stated that after the contract awarded over a year ago, the new company has already delivered more than 550,000 passport booklets.
Concerns about a shortage of passports from next month have arisen following the commencement of the CIAA’s investigation.
Prior to the distribution of new passports, reports surfaced in the media that the Prime Minister’s Office intervened and pressured the anti-corruption body to investigate the contracting process.
Questions Over Prime Minister’s Office Intervention
Image source, PMO
Opposition parties raised questions in parliament about the alleged conduct towards the anti-corruption officials at the Prime Minister’s Office.
Khadka Bahadur Budha, a Nepali Congress MP elected from Jajarkot, expressed dissatisfaction, stating that advisors to the Prime Minister pressured the heads and officials of constitutional bodies.
“Has the Prime Minister understood this yet? The CIAA is not a vigilance center under the Prime Minister’s Office; it is a constitutional entity that monitors the government and balances the exercise of state power,” he said.
“If today the Prime Minister’s Office intimidates the CIAA to make decisions according to its desire, then who will investigate the Prime Minister if he commits corruption tomorrow?”
Ganesh Bahadur Bishwakarma, a Nepali Communist Party MP, commented that the government’s actions have raised questions about its governance rhetoric.
“This government came with the slogan of good governance. But the mistreatment of a diplomat in the public sphere, the conduct and pressure exerted on the head of a constitutional body, and the threatening expressions used all send an alarming signal,” he questioned.
Khusbu Oli, a member of the Rastriya Prajatantra Party, also alleged in parliament that the Prime Minister’s Office advisors created a situation that seemed akin to controlling the commission’s officials, exerting pressure.
“If this report is false, the government should deny it immediately. If it is true, it is a direct interference in the autonomy of a constitutional body. Is this the starting point of the new government?” she questioned.
MPs Budha, Bishwakarma, and Oli also questioned the government in parliament over the Prime Minister’s Secretariat’s reported insult to the German Ambassador to Nepal, Udo Foltz.
“Reports say Nepal’s diplomatic reputation built over decades has been tarnished. The manner in which the staff has treated diplomatic representatives is said to be disrespectful. Such behavior damages Nepal’s image and credibility in the international community,” said Rastriya Prajatantra Party MP Oli.
In the National Assembly, Nar Bahadur Bista from the Nepal Communist Party raised questions against the government, stating that “CIAA officials were pressured by the Prime Minister’s Office to issue arrest warrants.”
Risk of Passport Shortage?
Image source, Nepal Photo Library/ Saphal Prakash Karki
Officials noted that only 70,000 passports from the previous printing company remain in the stock of the Department of Passports.
The contract signed to distribute passports from July 13 by a new company is currently under investigation, raising concerns about potential disruption in passport issuance.
The Department has reported distributing 3,000 to 3,500 passports daily.
If passports printed by the new company are not ready for timely distribution, it is anticipated that a shortage may begin from mid-July (Sawan).
However, passport department officials have downplayed concerns regarding the shortage.
These officials, speaking anonymously, confirmed the ongoing CIAA investigation regarding passport matters.
“The German company has printed 550,000 new passports. The department has completed all necessary tests and has them ready,” they stated.
“Once passports from the old company are exhausted, the new company’s booklets will be distributed.”
It remains unclear whether passports from the German company will be deployed immediately or not.
Attempts to contact government spokesperson and Education Minister Sasmit Pokharel, as well as Prime Minister’s political advisor Asim Shah, regarding the passport issue yielded no response by the time of publication.
Reasons Behind Passport Supply Concerns
Image source, Nepal Photo Library/ Saphal Prakash Karki
In June last year, the Department of Passports awarded contracts to two German companies: Veridos for printing passport booklets, and Mühlbauer ID Services for software and data management systems.
These companies were responsible for printing 6.4 million passports and managing data, but after a lengthy process, the contract became controversial.
The French company Idemia previously printing passports in Nepal took the case to the Supreme Court, which delayed the new contract process and caused existing passport stocks to run low.
In addition, during the Genjil Movement in September last year, more than 6,000 passports were reportedly destroyed by fire.
To resolve the passport shortage, then-election government Prime Minister Sushila Karki took proactive steps and sought assistance from German Ambassador Udo Foltz to expedite passport supply.
At that time, Karki’s public relations advisor Govindanarayan Timilsina stated that an emergency purchase of additional passports from France’s Idemia company was arranged to prevent immediate shortages.
After the German company indicated delays in manufacturing, the government procured 700,000 additional passports from the French company to avoid shortages.
Currently, only 70,000 of those 700,000 passports remain in stock.
Department officials said the German company Veridos has prepared passports for distribution but they have not yet been put into use as the old inventory is still depleting.
Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority Responds
Image source, RSS
A spokesperson for the CIAA stated that the passport-related matter is currently under investigation and declined to provide further details.
“We do not have any information on that matter. We are not aware of that issue,” said CIAA spokesperson Suresh Nyaupane.
The constitutional commission, appointed by the President on the recommendation of the Constitutional Council, currently has one Chief Commissioner and three Commissioners.
Prem Kumar Rai is the Chief Commissioner; he is a former Home Secretary.
Jay Bahadur Chand, Hari Paudel, and Sumitra Shrestha Amatya are Commissioners of the CIAA.
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