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The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) has reported that more than 1,000 Nepali citizens are currently serving sentences in foreign prisons.

In a response to a parliamentary question, recently published by the Federal Parliament Secretariat, the ministry stated that 1,171 Nepalis are behind bars abroad. Among them, seven have been sentenced to life imprisonment.

However, the ministry has not provided further details, including the countries where the Nepalis are detained or the charges they face.

The District Attorney’s Office Kathmandu has instructed the Nepal Police Cyber Bureau to proceed with further investigation against CPN-UML leader Mahesh Basnet under the Electronic Transaction Act.

According to officials, the office on Monday sent a formal letter to the Cyber Bureau, asking it to move ahead with the case based on a complaint filed by Januka Pathak, also known as Shova Pathak.

Earlier, on Sept 16, the Cyber Bureau had written to the Attorney’s Office stating that further inquiry into the documents submitted with the complaint against Basnet appeared unnecessary and had requested permission to keep the case on hold as per the law. However, the Attorney’s Office has now directed police to continue the investigation into the allegations.

Hello, greetings from Kathmandu

Today marks the seventh day of the 10-day-long Dashain festival. On this occasion of Bijaya Dashami, the President, Prime Minister, Speaker, politicians, and high-level government officials extended their best wishes to the public.

As this newsletter is being written, thousands of people are on their way home to celebrate the Dashain festival. However, some remain stranded due to landslides along major highways. In his message, President Ram Chandra Poudel called on all citizens to remain patient and extend their full support and cooperation in holding the upcoming elections on the announced date.

He emphasized the need to ensure the continuity of the people-elected parliament and government. Since the formation of the new interim government on Sept 12, President Poudel’s consistent message has been the timely execution of elections. He sees no other democratic way out of the current crisis than going to the polls as scheduled.

Prime Minister Sushila Karki, in her message, reiterated her commitment to holding the elections on March 5. She stated that the current government was formed on the foundation of GenZ protests and that it would conduct the elections to the House of Representatives on time. Karki faces mounting pressure to hold the elections on the stipulated date while also addressing the demands of protestors and political parties. In her address to the nation, she has made it clear that the government cannot fulfill demands that fall outside the bounds of the current constitution.

She carries the herculean task of creating an appropriate environment for elections amid provocative statements from both political leaders and GenZ protestors. So far, Karki has not held meetings with any political leaders. However, Kathmandu Mayor Balendra Shah and other forces are pressuring her to amend the constitution to pave the way for a directly elected president.

Pushpa Kamal Dahal, Coordinator of the Special Convention Organizing Committee of CPN (Maoist Center), expressed hope that cultural festivals like Dashain would inspire collective efforts toward building a prosperous Nepal with social justice, by overcoming the present complexities.

Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba, in his message, described the events during the GenZ demonstrations as unimaginable and tragic in Nepal’s history. This is Deuba’s first public statement since the protests, during which he was severely beaten by protestors.

Interestingly, CPN-UML Chair KP Sharma Oli has not issued any statement on Dashain so far. Meanwhile, on Sunday night, Nepal Police raided the Jawalakhel-based residence of Bhushan Rana, brother of Arzu Rana Deuba and brother-in-law of former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba. Police have yet to release any official information about the raid. The move follows Home Minister Om Prakash Aryal's recent instruction to reopen long-sidelined corruption cases, including the high-profile fake Bhutanese refugee scandal.

CPN-UML General Secretary Shankar Pokharel has claimed that the country has become a "deep state laboratory" due to geopolitical conflicts—though he did not elaborate on the statement. However, it is clear that CPN-UML suspects the involvement of foreign powers in the recent protests in Nepal.

In a Facebook post, Pokharel wrote: “Our country fell under the grip of geopolitical conflict. We could not protect ourselves from their game of weakening national power.” Communist parties in Nepal often view external conspiracies behind domestic developments that don’t align with their interests. His statement came a day after a day-long party meeting, where Chairman KP Sharma Oli shared his views and insights regarding the ongoing protests.

The Rastriya Swatantra Party(RSP) has directed its lawmakers to submit their red diplomatic passport and parliamentary identity cards to the Parliament Secretariat. Following the GenZ protests, the party announced the mass resignation of its parliamentarians. The protests have also triggered internal disputes within the party.

Note: In light of the country’s critical situation, The Annapurna Express has launched a daily newsletter aimed at informing both our domestic and international readers about the latest developments in Nepal. If readers need any clarification about what is happening in Nepal, feel free to contact me at [email protected]

Kamal Dev Bhattarai, Editor

President Ram Chandra Paudel has called on all citizens to remain patient and extend their full support and cooperation for holding the upcoming election on the announced date. 

He emphasized the need to ensure the continuity of the people-elected parliament and government.

Highlighting the current situation in the country, President Paudel stressed the need to address the country's emerging issues and extraordinary circumstances effectively. He also echoed the need for effectively managing the human casualties, as well as the physical and other damages sustained by the government, institutions, and the private sector. 

Extending his warm wishes today on the occasion of the Bada Dashain festival- 2082 BS, the Head of State wished for happiness, peace, prosperity, good health, and progress among all Nepali brothers and sisters at home and abroad.

Reflecting on the religious and historical significance of Bijaya Dashami, he recalled how Goddess Durga achieved victory over demonic forces. He said, "Dashain has long been celebrated with family gatherings and reunions, where joy and goodwill are shared. It is regarded as a festival symbolizing the victory of truth over untruth and injustice. I believe this festival will inspire all Nepalis to contribute, from their respective roles, to building an economically prosperous society founded in justice, equality, social unity, mutual harmony, and co-existence."

The President also acknowledged Dashain’s role in preserving Nepal’s cultural identity and unity, especially in the context of the country's diverse geography, cultures, and languages.

 He expressed his hope that Goddess Durga would bless everyone with the strength to address the existing political situation and help move the nation forward toward peace, stability, and prosperity.