KATHMANDU: CPN (UML) has strongly objected to the government’s decision to suspend and restrict the passport of its chairperson and former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, calling it an irresponsible and unjustified act.

During a dialogue held with the government on Tuesday evening, UML leaders urged that the decision be immediately withdrawn, informed party General Secretary Shankar Pokharel.

In a statement shared on social media on Wednesday, Pokharel said the party had formally requested the government to retract the move taken “without sufficient evidence.”

“The excessive use of force and loss of human lives during the incident of September 8 are matters of grave concern. The scale of casualties caused by police action went beyond standard crowd control measures,” Pokharel wrote.

“A high-level investigation commission was formed by the then government to look into the matter seriously. However, the current government has irresponsibly suspended and restricted the travel documents of the then prime minister without credible grounds. Our party firmly believes such inappropriate actions must be stopped,” he added.

The UML has also opposed the formation of the inquiry commission led by former Special Court Judge Gauri Bahadur Karki to investigate the incidents of September 8 and 9, calling for its immediate dissolution.

“The ‘Karki Commission’ formed by the current government cannot conduct an independent and impartial investigation,” Pokharel further wrote.

“Evidence has already surfaced that the commission’s head was involved in inciting the protests. Therefore, to ensure credibility and impartiality, the existing commission should be scrapped, and a new commission formed under trustworthy leadership,” Pokharel concluded.