Kathmandu, Feb. 13 -- Against the Kathmandu District Administration Office's prohibitory orders banning gatherings of more than five people in and around the Tribhuvan International Airport, pro-monarchy groups are hell-bent on staging a mass welcome for former king Gyanendra Shah, who is scheduled to arrive in Kathmandu from Damak, Jhapa, on Friday.

The administration announced the restriction on Thursday, citing security concerns ahead of the planned welcome. Issuing a statement, Eshwor Raj Poudel, the Kathmandu chief district officer, said no formal request or prior approval for any of such mass events had been granted.

"Serious attention has been drawn to the public statements and social media posts by some political groups and orga...