The Office of Attorney General has made it clear that it cannot defend the suspended chief of Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA), Lokman Singh Karki, because of the impeachment motion against him.

At a press meet organised in the Capital on Friday, Attorney General Raman Shrestha said  the body responsible for legal defence on behalf of the government has no right to defend the person against whom an impeachment motion has been registered at the Parliament Secretariat.

“The Office of Attorney General cannot legally defend against the impeachment motion,” said Shrestha during a press meet. “The duty of Attorney General is to defend the government position. The Attorney General can provide legal counsel in the impeachment motion against Karki if need be.” He added that there is no provision for a direct involement of Attorney General in impeachment motion.

However, the Attorney General’s Office will defend the appointment of Karki as CIAA Chief regarding the Supreme Court decision to review the verdict on a writ filed by advocate Om Prakash Aryal.

According to a high-level official at the Attorney General’s Office, Karki’s position is weak in the case.