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New Delhi: Former chief justice Sushila Karki has been appointed as Nepal's interim head, a day after Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli resigned in the face of massive anti-government protests. The demonstrations, which began after the government's decision to ban social media platforms, quickly escalated into a wider anti-corruption movement. Karki, the first woman to serve as Nepal's chief justice, will now steer the country through a transitional phase before fresh elections are held.
Her appointment came after violent protests led by the Gen Z group forced Oli to step down. At least 25 people, including three policemen, have been killed in the past two days of unrest. On Monday, 19 demonstrators, mostly young people, were shot dead by security forces outside the Parliament building. A day later, three policemen were killed by mobs in Kathmandu's Koteshwor area. More than 600 people have been injured in the clashes.
Karki's name was finalised during a virtual meeting of the Gen Z movement on Wednesday morning. The group, which spearheaded the protests, said they trusted her to guide Nepal through the crisis.
"The Gen-Z group led the recent movement in Nepal and they trusted me to lead the government for a short period," Karki told CNN-News18. "I have accepted their request to lead the interim government."
Meanwhile, the Nepal Army on Wednesday imposed nationwide restrictive orders, followed by a curfew, to quell further violence after Oli's resignation.
