Former Chief Justice Sushila Karki told The Statesman that she is ready to lead an interim government if the people want her. She described the situation as “demanding times”.
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As Nepal gets mired in political unrest over massive violent protests by ‘Gen Z’ groups, the name of Sushila Karki, the first woman to serve as the Chief Justice of Nepal, is doing the rounds as a possible candidate for the position of interim prime minister.
In a conversation with The Statesman, Karki (73) described the situation as “demanding times” and expressed her willingness to step in if the people wanted her to.
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“I have not slept since the clashes broke out. I don’t really know what’s happening outside, but whatever has happened is truly heartbreaking,” she said.
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Her name surfaced in the political debate as Nepal talks about forming an interim government following the recent unrest. This comes after violent incidents in which at least 19 people lost their lives during clashes with government forces.
Human rights activists, including Karki, have been actively engaging on the streets, monitoring the situation, and supporting those injured in the protests.
Sushila Karki’s career in Nepal’s judiciary is historic. She became Chief Justice on July 11, 2016, after being recommended by the Constitutional Council, which is headed by the Prime Minister.
On April 30, 2017, the Maoist Centre and Nepali Congress submitted an impeachment motion against her in Parliament. However, due to public outcry and a Supreme Court interim order preventing Parliament from proceeding, the motion was eventually withdrawn.
Karki is also an acclaimed author. Her first book, an autobiography titled ‘Nyaya’, was published in 2018. Her second book, a novel named ‘Kara’, came out in 2019. Set in Biratnagar Jail, the novel draws from Karki’s own experiences of imprisonment during Nepal’s Panchayat regime.
Fierce protests against corruption and nepotism spiraled into arson and violence on Tuesday. The prime minister resigned as politicians’ homes were vandalized, government buildings torched and parliament set ablaze.
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