Himalayan News Service

Kathmandu, April 8:

The professional organisations of lawyers, journalists, professors and doctors have agreed to set up an alliance -- Professionals Alliance for Peace and Democracy (PAPAD) -- to bring the three political forces namely, the King, parliamentary parties and the Maoists, together to solve present crisis.

"We decided to set up PAPAD yesterday to fight for democracy and establish peace," president of Nepal Bar Association, Shambhu Thapa told the reporters.

Thapa said the chiefs of the professionals were present at the meeting conducted by the Nepal Bar Association.

The professional organisations are at present doing their home work on various agenda on how to proceed with regard to a solution to the imbroglio. They will discuss further action on Sunday.

The professionals will try to find the minimum demand of the three forces and bring them to a dialogue.

"We will find the obstacle which is preventing the three forces from coming to the table," Thapa said, adding the PAPAD will work in a free and fair manner. "We are not the wing of any political party, so we will find a solution independently."

The professionals will also approach the United Nations if the political forces are not ready to establish peace.

Bishnu Nisthuri, general secretary of the Federation of Nepalese Journalists, said they will hold further discussions.