Nepal’s Ex-Chief Justice To Become Interim Prime Minister After Violent Protests

Sushila Karki, a former chief justice of Nepal, is set to take over as interim prime minister following the resignation of KP Sharma Oli, who stepped down amid violent protests led largely by young people.

The protest, which erupted over corruption scandals, economic hardship, and an unpopular social media ban (now reversed), turned deadly this week.

At least 51 people were killed and more than 1,300 injured as police clashed with angry crowds.

Reuters reports that President Ramchandra Paudel, after consulting a constitutional expert and army chief Ashok Raj Sigdel, has been advised to hand the role to Karki.

“Sushila Karki will be appointed interim prime minister. They (Gen Z) want her. This will happen today,” the source said.

Her appointment is expected to be confirmed after a meeting at the president’s residence on Friday afternoon.

Karki, 73, is Nepal’s first and only female chief justice. She held the position until her retirement in 2017 and is admired for her strong stance against corruption and her reputation for fairness.

Oli, also 73, announced on Tuesday that he was resigning to allow “further steps towards a political solution and resolution of the problems”.

But the unrest has already claimed heavy costs. Protesters vandalised and set fire to the homes of several political figures.

In Kathmandu, the wife of former prime minister Jhalanath Khanal, Rabi Laxmi Chitrakar, died after demonstrators allegedly trapped her inside their residence before torching it.

Police spokesperson Binod Ghimire confirmed that the death toll included 21 protesters, nine inmates, three police officers, and 18 others caught up in the chaos.

KanyiDaily recalls that in 20222, Nepal exempted eleven countries, including Nigeria, from its new tourist visa regime which will soon be introduced.