As Nepal is witness to escalating countrywide protests by the nation's youths, fueled by corruption and bad governance, arrangements are afoot to make former Chief Justice Sushila Karki the Interim Prime Minister.
Her appointment is likely to be announced as early as this Friday afternoon, marking a major political change in the midst of heightened public discontent.
The Sheetal Niwas, the President's Office, has asked its officials to make preparations for the new interim Prime Minister's arrival. Likewise, top officials at the Ministry of Home Affairs have been ordered to remain on standby in order to make the official handover possible once there is a political consensus.
Once the key political parties and the President agree on Karki’s leadership of the interim government, the Ministry will immediately begin implementing the necessary arrangements.
Karki, Nepal’s first female Chief Justice and a widely respected jurist, is seen as a neutral figure who could restore stability and credibility during this turbulent period. Her nomination gained traction after days of political discussions and public calls for a competent, non-partisan interim government.
Before Karki was touted as the top contender, Kulman Ghising, the former Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) chief, was also in the running. Ghising is hailed for having put an end to Nepal's chronic electricity scarcity with radical reforms.
The political events are playing out against the background of mass anti-graft protests that broke out across the country on Monday. The demonstrations were ignited by a short and unpopular government shutdown of Piped social media, seen as an assault on freedom of speech. The protests started in Kathmandu and soon spilled over into other urban centers like Pokhara, Butwal, and Birgunj.
Violence between security agencies and protesters has been reported in various places, killing 34 people and injuring more than 1,000 as of now. The administration has been criticized across the board for its response.
Read also Watch | Netanyahu Compares Qatar Strike to 9/11, Says ‘Israel Did What the US Did’
