Kathmandu, June 3:

Members of Parliament (MPs) today urged the government to promulgate law in line with Friday’s Supreme Court verdict on forced disappearances.

The SC verdict had ordered the government to punish the villains of forced disappearances. The MPs also called on the government to form an independent commission to probe disappearances. The MPs were discussing a Civil Code amendment bill, which has been tabled in parliament to criminalise disappearances. The bill has been pending at the parliament.

“It will be better to form an independent commission to investigate and punish those found involved in disappearances,” a Nepali Congress MP, Harihar Dahal, said. “Rather than amending the Civil Code, the government should promulgate a specific Act on disappearances,” Dahal said.

Banshidhar Mishra, a CPN-UML MP, said: “Thousands of people suffered due to lack of provision to punish the villains of disappearances.” “Time has come to promulgate a law on disappearances in line with the apex court verdict.” “The Civil Code amendment bill should have a provision to imprison those behind disappearances for over five years,” Mishra added.

“The villains of abductions and disappearances should get punishment tougher than murderers,” said a lawmaker from the NWPP, Sunil Prajapati. “A specific Act should be introduced to criminalise disappearances.” Prajapati demanded that everyone guilty of forced disappearances be brought to justice.

Amrita Thapa of the CPN (Maoist) demanded that those guilty of disappearances be treated like murderers.

MPs Lalit Kumar Basnet and Sabitri Gurung Dura also called for promulgation of a retrospective law to punish those guilty of disappearances. Minister of State for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, Indra Gurung, said the government is committed to punishing those guilty of disappearances and providing justice to the victims.