Inquiry Commission Recommends Passport Freeze for Former PM Oli and Key Officials in Gen-Z Protest Crackdown Case

KalimNews, Kathmandu, September 28, 2025 — The judicial inquiry commission investigating the violent suppression of the Gen-Z protests in September 2025 has recommended a travel ban for five high-ranking former officials, including former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and former Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak. The commission, led by former justice Gauri Bahadur Karki, has directed that their passports be suspended due to their involvement in the human casualties that occurred during the protests on September 8 and 9.

The Commission of Inquiry, established to investigate the deadly crackdown on the protests, has brought these officials under scrutiny and instructed relevant authorities to restrict their movement. The five individuals subject to the travel ban are: KP Sharma Oli – Former Prime Minister, Ramesh Lekhak – Former Home Minister, Gokarna Mani Duwadi – Former Home Secretary, Hutaraj Thapa – Former Chief of the National Investigation Department and Chhabilal Rijal – Former Kathmandu Chief District Officer

The commission's statement explained that these officials must now seek approval before leaving the Kathmandu Valley as they may be summoned for questioning during the ongoing investigation. The decision to impose a travel ban is seen as a necessary step to ensure accountability and ensure that those involved in the tragic events are available for questioning at any time.

In a press statement issued on Sunday, Commission chair Gauri Bahadur Karki emphasized that the travel restrictions were part of the efforts to hold these individuals accountable as the investigation progresses. “We may require additional human resources to complete the probe effectively, and we will request support from the Home Ministry,” Karki said, referring to the need for more manpower to ensure a fair and thorough investigation.

The recommendation to freeze the passports of these top officials is one of the most high-profile actions taken by the interim government since the Gen-Z protests, during which 19 young demonstrators were killed, and many others were injured or disappeared due to the state's heavy-handed response.

Following the protests, public anger has been mounting, with widespread criticism of the state’s use of excessive force, including beatings, arrests, and reported disappearances of student activists. The families of the victims and human rights defenders have called for truth, compensation, and legal consequences for those responsible for the crackdown.

The Gen-Z protests and the subsequent violent response have further complicated the political climate in Nepal. Former PM Oli, who still wields considerable influence within his party, the CPN-UML, has been implicated in the deaths and violence that occurred during the demonstrations. His government was ousted on the second day of the protests, and both Oli and his then-home minister Lekhak have faced blame for ordering the brutal suppression of the peaceful demonstrators.

In a highly charged statement, Oli expressed his anger over the travel ban recommendation. Speaking to a gathering of party cadres on Saturday, Oli criticized the Sushila Karki-led interim government, accusing it of destabilizing the country. “Now the government is talking about revoking my privileges, withholding my passport, filing cases against me. They’re throwing the country into insecurity—shouldn’t they be responsible for ensuring security?” he said, adding to the growing political tension.

Whether this recommendation will lead to prosecutions or whether it will end like many past commissions remains to be seen. Public trust in the government’s ability to deliver accountability is now on the line, as many citizens await tangible consequences for those responsible for the violence.

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has already released a report blaming the Oli government for not adequately anticipating the intensity of the Gen-Z protests, which led to the loss of lives and significant property damage. The NHRC also criticized the security forces for their excessive use of force, noting that the first day of protests was largely peaceful before the police firing triggered widespread violence and destruction the following day.

As the judicial commission continues its inquiry, the country’s political future may hinge on whether justice is served for the victims of the Gen-Z crackdown and whether those responsible for the violence are held accountable.

The interim government’s actions, including the passport freeze recommendation, will undoubtedly shape the political landscape in Nepal as the investigation unfolds and as citizens demand justice for the victims of the September protests.