KATHMANDU, APRIL 22
A meeting of chief whips, whips, and representatives of all political parties represented in the House of Representatives, held in the presence of Speaker Dol Prasad Aryal, has decided to strictly enforce measures to prevent the misuse of diplomatic passports.
The meeting also concluded that existing laws governing the recommendation and use of diplomatic passports should be rigorously followed for the time being, while necessary amendments will be pursued as a long-term measure.
Recalling past instances of misuse, Speaker Aryal emphasized the need for stringent action to curb the abuse of diplomatic passports.
Chief Whip of the Rastriya Swatantra Party, Kabindra Burlakoti, stressed that diplomatic passports must be used strictly in accordance with prevailing legal provisions.
Similarly, Nepali Congress lawmaker Yogesh Gauchan expressed the view that greater attention should be paid to the capacity building of lawmakers, rather than focusing solely on facilities.
CPN (UML) lawmaker Guru Prasad Baral noted that the country's reputation has suffered due to the misuse of diplomatic passports and called for a review of the policy and its historical context.
Chief Whip of the Nepal Communist Party, Yubaraj Dulal, stated that the use of diplomatic passports must be strictly regulated and that misuse-particularly by individuals participating in high-level delegations-must be prevented.
Representatives of other parties suggested that long-term decisions should be made only after further discussions, consultations, and a study of international practices, according to the Speaker's Secretariat.
Secretary-General of the Federal Parliament, Padma Prasad Pandeya, clarified that there is no complication in using diplomatic passports for official duties and ordinary passports for personal travel.
Foreign Secretary Amrit Rai also reiterated that diplomatic passports are issued solely for official or special purposes, in accordance with the Passport Act, 2076, and the Passport Regulations, 2077. He underscored the need to address practical challenges faced in obtaining visas.
