Nepal’s former Chief Justice, Sushila Karki has been named the country’s interim Prime Minister following deadly protests this week that killed at least 51 people, injured more than 1,300, and led to the escape of thousands of prisoners.
On Friday, President Ramchandra Paudel’s office announced the appointment of Karki, the country’s first female head of government. The 73-year-old, the only woman to have served as Chief Justice of Nepal’s Supreme Court, was set to be sworn in late today, Friday, September 12, 2025.
Police Spokesperson Binod Ghimire said on Friday that those killed so far this week included 21 protesters, nine prisoners, three police officers and 18 others, without elaborating. Another 1,300 people were injured as police fought to control crowds.
Ghimire added that more than 12,500 prisoners who escaped from multiple jails countrywide remain on the run. He added, “About 13,500 prisoners had escaped — some have been recaptured, 12,533 are still at large.”
The dead included prisoners killed during or after their escape in clashes with Nepalese security forces.
Some of the fugitives have reportedly tried to cross into India, where scores have been apprehended by Indian border forces.
Nepal’s army, which has imposed a curfew, said that it had recovered more than 100 guns looted in the turmoil, with some protesters seen brandishing automatic rifles.
On Monday, 21 protesters were killed during a police crackdown on demonstrations against a government ban on social media, corruption and poor governance. On Tuesday, protesters set the parliament ablaze, KP Sharma Oli resigned, and the army took charge of the streets.
The resignation of the 73-year-old – who was serving his fourth term as Prime Minister and was seen by many as authoritarian, corrupt and out of touch – was widely celebrated by the gen Z protesters out on the streets.
However, the speed at which the protests had led to the toppling of the government also presented issues. They had not been part of a coherent, organised group and did not have a leader or group of representatives.
After the President and the Army Chief invited the gen Z protesters to be part of the discussions on who should form the next government, a team of representatives were chosen.
By Wednesday, they had put forward Karki as their choice to lead an interim government, and insisted that the current parliament should be dissolved.
Karki had been appointed Nepal’s first female Chief Justice in 2016 and became known for delivering several high-profile judgments against Ministers and senior police in corruption cases, coming into the crosshairs of the major political parties as a result.
After retiring, she had established herself as a prominent figure in civil society, speaking out on issues of corruption and political malpractices in Nepal.
Exact Nature Of Interim Government Still Unclear
The exact nature of the interim government that will govern Nepal under Karki has still yet to be made clear, though it was announced that she would be leading a “council of Ministers.”
Many in the gen Z movement are pushing for her to immediately open corruption allegations into former Prime Minister Oli and his Ministers and hold an inquiry into the protest deaths that took place.
Shops began reopening on Friday, and cars again filled the streets while police held batons instead of the guns they carried earlier in the week — signs that normalcy may be returning in Kathmandu. Some roads stayed blocked, though streets were patrolled by fewer soldiers than before.
Authorities began handing the bodies of loved ones killed in the protests to mourning families.
Wedged between India and China, Nepal has grappled with political and economic instability since the abolition of its monarchy in 2008, while a lack of jobs drives millions to seek work in other countries and send money home.
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