Ex-CJ Karki to head interim govt; death toll rises to 30
After KP Sharma resigned as the Prime Minister of Nepal amid violent protests, former Chief Justice Sushila Karki has emerged as one of the possible candidates to lead the new transition government.
This comes a day after Nepal plunged into political crisis prompting the Nepal Army to take over law and order.
Sushila Karki was Nepal’s first female Chief Justice serving in the role from July 2016 to June 2017. She adopted a policy of zero tolerance against corruption during her tenure.
Nepalese troops on Wednesday patrolled the streets to restore order and to quell possible violence “under the guise of agitation” as the Himalayan nation slowly returned to normalcy.
As the Nepal Army imposed nationwide restrictive orders followed by a curfew until 6 am Thursday, sources said former chief justice Sushila Karki, Kathmandu Mayor Balendra Shah and former electricity board CEO Kulman Ghising were among the names being considered by the protesting Gen Z group to lead an interim government.
Meanwhile, the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) in Kathmandu resumed services from Wednesday evening, 24 hours after closing its operations due to violent protests.
The Nepal Army has asked the “foreign nationals, stranded due to the current difficult situation, to contact the nearest security post or security people for their rescue or any other help.
It has also requested hotels, tourism entrepreneurs and related agencies concerned to provide necessary help to the needy foreign nationals.
During the day, the national capital wore a deserted look as soldiers guarded the streets and ordered people to stay at home, a day after protesters set fire to the key government buildings, political parties’ offices and homes of senior politicians. There were no reports of violence on Wednesday.
As the situation returns to normalcy, the protesting Gen Z group held discussions to finalise the name of the person to lead an interim government.
Karki, the only woman to serve as the chief justice of Nepal’s top court, Balendra and Ghising were among the names being considered for to lead the interim government, sources said.
Meanwhile, the death toll from the violent protests led by the ‘Gen Z’ group in the last two days increased to 30, according to the Ministry of Health and Population.
In a statement released on Wednesday evening, the ministry said 1,061 people were injured. It said 719 of the injured have been discharged, while 274 have been admitted to the hospital.
Meanwhile, Nepal Army chief General Ashok Raj Sigdel is holding consultations with related stakeholders and held a meeting with representatives of Gen Z, military spokesman Rajaram Basnet told reporters.
Nepali police said more than 13,500 prisoners broke out of jails across the country during anti-government protests.
“Three policemen died yesterday and more than 13,500 prisoners have escaped from jails across the country,” Nepal Police spokesman Binod Ghimire told AFP.
The military took control of Kathmandu’s Dillibazar Jail after a large group of inmates stepped out of the prison premises demanding release. The incident followed reports that police personnel, who had been guarding several detention facilities, withdrew from their posts— except at Police Headquarters — amid two days of violent unrest.
Five escapees were later apprehended at the India-Nepal border in Uttar Pradesh’s Siddharthnagar district. Officials said they were intercepted by the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) during a border check and handed over to the local police for further investigation and legal action.