KATHMANDU: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has urged the local administration to respect the citizens’ right to peaceful assembly.

NHRC’s Bagmati Province Office instructed Chief District Officers and security chiefs of Kathmandu and Lalitpur districts to remain sensitive to the right of the citizens.

In this connection, the NHRC Province Office held a discussion with the chief district officers of Kathmandu Lalitpur, Kali Prasad Parajuli and Dwarika Prasad Niraula, and security chiefs of both the districts Senior Superintendent of Police Ashok Singh and Kiran Bajracharya to respect the right of the citizens.

As informed the commission instructed the local administration of both the districts to not allow the use of excessive force over the demonstrations taking place for and against the government’s decision on parliamentary dissolution.

According to NHRC joint-secretary Yagya Prasad Adhikari, the discussion was held as to how the possible loss of lives and properties could be checked and citizens’ freedom of expression and opinion, as well as the right to peaceful assembly, could be respected during public demonstrations.

The constitutional human rights watchdog body has also expressed its serious attention towards possible consequences on the protection of human rights due to the situation resulted from ongoing protest programs.

The commission further said that it has been closely monitoring the protests and demonstrations taking place in different parts of the capital city.

NHRC’s secretary Bed Prasad Bhattarai said the police and administration should play a positive role in ensuring the consumption of constitutional rights of the citizens and urged the protestors to demonstrate their discontent by exercising tolerance.

Kathmandu CDO Parajuli said that the local administration was sensitive to the protection of citizen’s rights and their lives and properties and also urged the demonstrators to restrain tolerance during the peaceful protests.

Likewise, Lalitpur CDO Niraula said the administration has always laid emphasis on maintaining law and order and protecting democracy and human rights.