Nepal Prime Minister Sushila Karki on Friday said the army will play a pivotal role in ensuring the peaceful conduct of the parliamentary elections scheduled for March 5 next year.
Her remarks came a day after President Ramchandra Paudel approved the Cabinet’s decision to deploy the army for the upcoming general elections.
During an inspection of the Army Headquarters in Bhadrakali, Karki stressed that the force bears a key responsibility in helping the government conduct the elections in a free, fair, and fear-free manner.
Expressing confidence in the force, Karki said the army had successfully carried out such responsibilities in the past and would do so again by maintaining security during the electoral process.
“I urge the Army to move ahead along with a clear action plan in order to create an environment to ensure security to the people, to facilitate, support and secure police operations as well as allow all political parties to organise political activities without any hindrance,” she said.
Karki also directed the army to work in close coordination with all security agencies, including the Nepal Police and the Armed Police Force, while factoring in past election experiences and the sensitivities surrounding the upcoming polls.
ALSO READ: Gen Z protesters clash with CPN-UML cadres in Western Nepal
She instructed the army to coordinate with other security agencies to maintain peace and security, recover looted weapons, and apprehend prisoners who escaped during the Gen Z protests.
