KATHMANDU, August 9

The special committee formed to revise the preliminary draft of the new constitution under the Constitutional Political Dialogue and Consensus Committee has proposed to the Constituent Assembly that ‘Armed Police Force’ be renamed ‘Armed Police Force Nepal’.

Nepal Police had been lobbying with political parties and the government to delete  the term ‘Police’ from Armed Police Force, arguing that the name of the paramilitary force should be changed in accordance with its nature of functions, duties and powers as the general public often confuses Armed Police Force for Nepal Police.

Despite its political lobbying, CPDCC suggested insertion of ‘Nepal’ after ‘Armed Police Force’.

To counter Nepal Police’s suggestion that the term ‘Police’ be deleted, senior officials of Armed Police Force had lobbied against the proposal put forth by Nepal Police.

A 17-page report prepared and made public by the Baburam Bhattarai-led draft constitution revision panel yesterday said that Armed Police Force will be renamed Armed Police Force Nepal.

The revised draft constitution contains a provision in Article 263 titled ‘Provisions Relating to Nepal Police, Armed Police Force Nepal and National Investigation Department’.

However, Nepali Army, Nepal Police and APF Nepal and National Investigation Department have been retained as second, third and fourth in order of seniority among the security agencies.

Earlier, APF had suggested that political parties and the Constituent Assembly place it second in seniority order after Nepali Army, claiming that ‘the international practice was to place paramilitary forces after the army in order of seniority’.

According to the proposed change in the draft constitution, each Pradesh will have police organisation. “Provisions relating to coordination of functions to be carried out by Nepal Police and Pradesh police shall be as determined by the Federal law,” Article 263(3) says.     NP had also suggested constituting Federal Nepal Police in a manner that confers power on it to coordinate the ‘Provincial Nepal Police’. However, no action has been taken in relation to the suggestion.