KATHMANDU: Legal experts today urged the parties to decide the fate of the new government in parliament.

“There is option. No attempt should be made to escape parliament. The Speaker should ensure steps to clear all obstacles,” said Bishwo Kanta Mainali, president, Nepal Bar Association.

“The Speaker is empowered to run parliament. He can expel lawmakers, who are a deterrent to run the House business. Unfortunately, our Speaker isn’t firm,” he said.

Mainali made this statement today while speaking at a programme, which was organised by Reporters Club Nepal.

He apprehended that a civil war could break out if there was a bid to form the government outside the precincts of parliament.

President Dr Ram Baran has exercised his second option to form the majority government since the first one - to form the national unity government - could not be accomplished within the stipulated timeframe. The deadline expired last Saturday.

Senior advocate-turned-Constituent Assembly member Radheshyam Adhikari agreed with Mainali.

NBA general secretary and advocate Raman Kumar Shrestha blamed the parties for the ongoing political deadlock.

“The President has made his intention clear. He asserted his position by reinstating Chief of Army Staff Rookmangud Katawal,” said Shrestha.

He added that a section of legal experts were instigating the Nepali Congress and the CPN-UML to bypass parliament while forming the new government.

“The Maoists are involved in suppressing the rights of the people. They are imposing the Maoist supremacy in the name of civilian supremacy,” alleged Sudeep Pathak, a human rights activist.

Tara Nath Dahal, ex-president, Federation of Nepali Journalists, and Dr Kedar Narasingh KC, Chairman, Medical Doctors’ Association, also accused the Maoist-led caretaker government. The duo urged the ex-rebels to respect the rule of law if they wanted to establish civilian supremacy in the country.