Kathmandu: In a significant development, an agreement has been reached between Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' and the main opposition party CPN (UML) Chair KP Sharma Oli to establish a three-member high-level investigation commission. The commission will be led by a former judge of the High Court and will focus on probing the gold smuggling scandal that has raised concerns.

The decision was announced by Mahesh Bartaula, the CPN (UML) Whip, following discussions held at the official residence of Prime Minister Prachanda in Baluwatar. Bartaula stated that a meeting of the Council of Ministers will be convened to formally form the investigation commission, and the decision will be communicated to the House of Representatives during its session later today.

Several parties, including the UML, had been advocating for the establishment of a high-level probe commission to investigate the gold smuggling scandal. An agreement had been reached earlier, on August 23, among the government and political parties, stipulating that the commission would be formed by September 22, with operations commencing on the same day.

The investigation commission, once formed, will be granted a three-month timeframe to conduct its inquiries. Prime Minister Prachanda is expected to address the House of Representatives today to announce the establishment of the investigation commission. Prior to this, he had held discussions with UML Chair Oli and consulted with ruling parties on the matter.

Representatives from all parliamentary parties, with the exception of the Rastriya Swatantra Party, participated in today's discussions.