Govt puts diplomatic efforts for Jha's fair hearing

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, May 19: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) informed on Monday that continuous diplomatic efforts are being undertaken through all available channels to ensure a fair hearing for Amrit Jha, a Nepali citizen who was arrested in Iran on charges of illegal smuggling and transportation of goods in Qeshm Island. 

According to the latest information received by the Ministry, the  team formed to prepare the Expert Report in the case is in the process of submitting its report to the court.

The expert team was formed about a month ago according to the direction issued by an Iranian court. 

"As the case pending before the local Iranian court will be resolved in accordance with Iranian law, continuous diplomatic efforts are being undertaken through all available channels to ensure, among other things, a fair hearing for Jha," the MoFA informed in a statement. 

Iranian authorities had arrested Nepali citizen Amrit Jha along with six other foreign nationals from Qeshm Island in January 2016, before the war broke out between Israel-USA and Iran. Currently, he is being held in custody for judicial remand in Bandar Abbas. 

In the same statement, the MoFA expressed regrets over the confusion and inconvenience caused by the public dissemination of informal information regarding Jha's release while the case remained under consideration in an Iranian court while he was in the custody. 

This confusion was caused by information shared by Nepal's honorary consul for Iran Shahram Shantiaee with Nepal's ambassador in Qatar Kumar Rai. Based on Shantiaee informed Rai on April 15 that a letter was issued for Jha's release and he was free. 

Ambassador Rai updated Foreign Secretary Amrit Bahadur Rai about the developments on Jha's release as the matter has been turned into a great public concern here in Nepal. 

Considering the difficult situation prevailing there, the immediate public concern regarding the Nepali citizen, the enquiries made by media outlets, and the fact that the matter had already reached Jha’s family, the Ministry issued a press statement the same day stating that informal information had been received regarding the release. 

Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal also shared the information through social media.

But when the MoFA instructed the Embassy of Nepal in Doha to obtain written evidence  of his release so that the process of his repatriation to Nepal could be initiated, the mission received update that Jha had not yet been released but the court had directed the preparation of an Expert Report in relation to the case. 

FM Khanal seeks diaspora support in development 

Meanwhile, FM Khanal invited the Nepali diaspora community to remain actively engaged as partners in building a prosperous and inclusive Nepal. 

Launching a report 'Nepali Diaspora in Australia' as an event organsied by Institute for Integrated Development Studies (IIDS) in Kathmandu on Monday, he said that the Nepali diaspora in Australia represent one of Nepal’s national strengths. 

He noted that education remains a key pillar of Nepal-Australia relations and emphasised that they serve as an important soft-power bridge strengthening mutual goodwill, cultural understanding and multifaceted partnerships beyond remittance, the MoFA said in its post on X. 

The programme was also attended by Australian Ambassador to Nepal Simon Ernst, Non-Resident Nepalis, private sector and researchers.