Kathmandu, September 12 (HS) : Amid ongoing political turmoil in Nepal, consensus has been nearly reached to appoint former Chief Justice Sushila Karki as the head of the interim government, while disagreements persist over the dissolution of parliament. The aftermath of violent protests triggered by a social media ban forced Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli to resign, and the formation of a caretaker government has since been the focus of intense negotiations.
A late-night meeting from 10:30 PM until 3 AM at the Presidential residence, attended by President Ram Chandra Paudel, Chief of Army Staff, Speaker of the Parliament Daraj Ghimire, National Assembly Chairperson Narayan Dahal, and Chief Justice Prakash Singh Raut, also had Sushila Karki present. The Army has declared agreement on Karki’s nomination as interim government head, but political parties remain divided over parliament’s dissolution, prompting a resumed session from 9 AM today.
Constitutionally, there is a prohibition on appointing former chief justices to political or constitutional posts; nevertheless, political groups have approved Karki’s appointment on grounds of necessity. President Paudel is in active consultation with key party leaders and constitutional experts and has held phone discussions with former Prime Minister Madhav Nepal and other stakeholders.
Key political parties including Nepali Congress, UML, and the Maoist Centre have expressed opposition to dissolving parliament, issuing statements demanding that government formation proceed within constitutional frameworks and through parliamentary processes. The Gen Z protest group remains firm on parliament’s dissolution as part of their demands.
Following the protests, which saw violence suppressed after the military took control, efforts to restore calm continue with further talks scheduled. The interim government, expected to be headed by Sushila Karki, marks an effort to stabilize the country and pave the way for fresh elections while respecting constitutional norms.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar
