Nepal’s Prime Minister Balendra Shah has been granted a medical exemption allowing him to wear sunglasses inside parliament.
The Kathmandu Post reported that Shah obtained a medical certificate from an ophthalmologist at a military hospital in Kathmandu.
Earlier this month, Speaker of the House of Representatives Dol Prasad Aryal banned people from entering the legislature wearing sunglasses, except on medical grounds.
The speaker said the measure followed repeated instances of lawmakers attending parliamentary sessions in sunglasses, which had “raised questions and criticism”, according to the newspaper.
Shah is expected to appear in parliament on 26 August to answer questions from lawmakers. He is expected to wear his sunglasses during the session.
Shah, who began his career as a poet and rapper, regularly wears dark sunglasses as part of his public image.
According to the Kathmandu Post, his doctor recommended that he wear sunglasses to protect his eyes from bright light and use eye drops when necessary.
The newspaper did not say whether the ban was specifically directed at Shah.
Shah and Aryal are both members of the Rastriya Swatantra Party, although they joined the party at different times.
By Aghakazim Guliyev
