Expressing serious concern over the prolonged house arrest and detention of political leaders, human rights activists and civil society leaders, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Wednesday asked the government to release the detainees.

“The commission maintains that the act of the government to keep anybody under house arrest and detention in the present-day situation is violation of the international commitment of the government towards rule of law. The commission urges the government to respect rule of law of by releasing those kept under house arrest or detention arbitrarily or without sufficient grounds,” a press release issued by the NHRC stated.

The rights watchdog further said that it was “seriously concerned” over the house arrest of CPN (UML) general secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal and detention of other political and civil society leaders and human rights activists.

The commission also pointed out that peaceful assembly and use of freedom of expression and free movement were some of the rights guaranteed by the constitution as well as the international accord on political rights.

The rights body’s call comes following extension of the house arrest of the UML general secretary and arrest of Nepali Congress spokesman KP Sitaula while hundreds of other opposition leaders, human rights and civil society activists are still languishing in security custodies around the country.