Kathmandu: In clear indication that they are in favour of the return of the rule of law in the country, Nepal’s Gen Z protesters have chosen former chief justice Sushila Karki as the head of an interim government.
This decision was taken in a virtual meeting attended by more than 5,000 youngsters on Wednesday. This followed two days of turmoil in Nepal after youths came out on the streets on Monday against a ban on social media platforms and the corrupt leadership.
Wednesday’s online discussion focused on possible candidates for the top post. While Kathmandu mayor Balen Shah was initially viewed as the favourite, participants said he did not respond to repeated attempts to contact him.
“Since he did not take our calls, the discussion shifted to other names. The most support has gone to Sushila Karki,” a Gen Z representative was quoted as saying by Nepali media.
Karki had earlier been approached with the proposal and reportedly asked for at least 1,000 written signatures as a show of support. According to sources, she has now secured over 2,500 signatures, exceeding the demand.
Several other names were discussed in the virtual meeting. Participants mentioned Kulman Ghising, the chief of Nepal Electricity Authority, along with youth leader Sagar Dhakal and Dharan mayor Harka Sampang.
YouTuber Random Nepali also received backing but said he would only step forward if no other figure accepted the position.
If Karki accepts the proposal, she will have to discuss the matter with Nepal Army chief General Ashok Raj Sigdel and then seek approval from the country’s president Ram Chandra Poudel.
Gen Z protesters turned violent after 19 of them were shot dead by the police on Monday. They then torched the Parliament House, President’s Office, Prime Minister’s residence, Singha Darbar, party headquarters, and homes of senior leaders. Prime minister K P Sharma Oli was forced to resign.
Karki (72) is the first woman to serve as the chief justice of Nepal. She was appointed in 2016 by then-President Bidya Devi Bhandari on the recommendation of the Constitutional Council led by then-Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli.
Karki began her professional journey as a teacher before entering the judiciary, where she built a reputation as a fearless, competent, and incorruptible figure.
She was part of the 2006 Constitutional Drafting Committee and was appointed as an ad-hoc Supreme Court justice in 2009, becoming permanent the following year. In 2016, she briefly served as Acting Chief Justice before formally taking the top post.
