NO FORMAL DATE FOR ELECTION UNTIL ALL PREPARATIONS COMPLETE UPDATE Kathmandu, 4 April: A eight-member task force of the high-powered body of four political forces behind the government decided Thursday not to announce formal date for the second constituent assembly—a position taklen by the election commission.—until all preparations for a vote are completed.. The task force has two persons each from each party. Maoists were insisting immediate announcement for elections arguing a wave was in their favour for election on 18 or 21 June. Chairman Prachanda heads a committee that has been formed to create an environment for a vote by talking with parties opposed to elections. The body also discussed suggesting names for appointment to vacant positions in constitutional bodies. Prachanda is pushing for immediate announcement of election dates opposed by election commission without adequate preparations. The Maoist move was just tactical. They are aware a vote isn’t immediately possible. The largest party was blaming the government it installed , the president NC and UML and even the election commission MORE NEPAL OUT OF AFC U-14 TOURNAMENT Kathmandu, 4 April:: Nepal played a 1-1 draw against Tajikistan m the AFC U-14 in the Nepalese capital Thursday. The host country is out of the next phase of the tournament. Nepal meets Bhuan is its last match Saturday. nnnn . BODIES OF TWO GIRLS FOUND IN GEGNAS TAL Kathmandu, 4 April: Bodies of two girls who died after their boat capsized in Begnas Tal after a sudden storm was found in the Pohara lake Thursday. Four children of two families on a picnic died so far.. Nnnn BIRD FLU DETECTED IN ANOTHER NAWAL PARASI FARM Kathmandu, 4 April: Bird flu was detected at a second poultry farm in Nawal Parasssssssi Thursday in the mid-West. Avian flu virus was detected in Chitwan in the central region and Jhapa in the East this week simultaneously. Nnnn QUEUES AGAIN FOR PETROL Kathmandu, 4 April: Long queues atpetrol stations are again a normal sight. Petrol supply eased earlier this month and queues disappeared. Queues have again been waiting at petrol stations fir precious fuel for two days with government and dealers’ differing perceptions of privatization of the oil import business, nnnn SENIOR ADVOCATES DIFFER ON APPOINTMENT OF JUDGES Kathmandu, 4 April: Senor advocates were today [Wednesday] divided over the appointment of judges in the Supreme Court even though the apex court is yet to rule on sub-judice cases that have challenged the presidential decree that removed constitutional difficulties while appointing the interim election council of ministers led by Chairman Khil Raj Regmi, The Himalayan Times reports.. While discussing with Nepal Bar Association’s executive committee, senior advocates, former presidents and secretary generals of the umbrella organisation have expressed conflicting opinions on judges’ appointment. The NBA sought opinion from them at a time when the judges appointing body is doing its homework for appointing judges. “Despite seriousness of the cases, some seniors underlined the necessity of the appointments to deal with thousands of cases that have piled up as the right to justice of the people is being deprived,” Tikaram Bhattarai, vice president, NBA told The Himalayan Times. “We will stick to our opinion and advise accordingly,” Bhattarai said. The JC is discussing the issue with NBA tomorrow. The seniors also added that if NBA allow the JC to appoint in such a situation, it would go against NBA’s previous stance and also undermine judicial norms as the case was sub-judice in the apex court. Senior advocates Subas Nembang, Radheshyam Adhikary, Bishwokanta Mainali, Sindhunath Pyakurel, Prem Bahadur Khadka and Raman Shrestha attended the meeting. Nembang was against the appointment and suggested that JC should wait for the apex court verdict, while Adhikary emphasised on considering the rights of the common people to justice, according to a source. “Nembang claimed that appointments without deciding the case would be against the norms and values of justice, while Mainali suggested pragmatism as hundreds of cases were being postponed in the apex court everyday.” nnnn