KATHMANDU: The Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist), has denounced a government decision to suspend the passport of former prime minister and party chairman K.P. Sharma Oli.

The party’s secretariat, meeting Sunday in Bhaktapur, said the move was politically motivated. “We have taken serious note of reports that the passports of Chairman Oli and others have been recommended for suspension,” deputy general secretary Pradeep Gyawali said.

“This politically vindictive step, carried out through a media trial and timed with the Dashain festival, is unacceptable to the party leadership.”

The recommendation came from a high-level commission investigating incidents that took place on September 8–9. The panel advised that five individuals’ passports be withheld: Oli; former home minister Ramesh Lekhak; former home secretary Gokarnamani Duwadi; former chief of the National Investigation Department Hutaraj Thapa; and former Kathmandu chief district officer Chhabi Rijal.

Gyawali warned that the decision undermines public confidence in the inquiry. “These revenge-driven actions raise serious questions about the commission’s credibility,” he said.