Ex-Nepal Chief Justice Sushila Karki chosen to lead protesters in talks with army

The decision came late Wednesday after a six-hour meeting among protest leaders.

The youth-led demonstrations, which have swept across Nepal in recent days, are demanding sweeping political changes, including:

• Immediate arrest and action against the then Prime Minister, Home Minister, and officials accused of ordering mass killings during the unrest.
• A new constitution with a provision limiting anyone from serving as Prime Minister for more than two terms.
• Cancellation of politically influenced appointments in constitutional bodies such as the CIAA (Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority) and the judiciary.
• Merit-based appointments across government institutions.

Who is Sushila Karki?

Sushila Karki, 71, made history as Nepal’s first woman Chief Justice. Known for her zero-tolerance stance on corruption, she is widely respected in legal and civil society circles.

She completed her BA at Mahendra Morang Campus and an MA in Political Science from Banaras Hindu University before earning a law degree at Tribhuvan University.

Initially a lecturer, she shifted to a career in law, rising to become a senior advocate before her appointment as Chief Justice in July 2016.

During her tenure, she presided over high-profile anti-corruption cases, including the conviction of former Information Minister Jaiprakash Prasad Gupta and a landmark ruling against Lokman Singh Karki, the former chief of the CIAA.

In 2017, she faced an impeachment motion brought by the Maoist-led government, widely viewed as politically motivated. The attempt was withdrawn after intense public backlash.

A voice for the movement

Karki has recently spoken out in support of the protests, calling Nepal’s current leadership outdated and out of touch.

“This government should step down... These leaders are out of date. They have no vision, no education. Maybe they have certificates, but they do not seem educated,” she told NDTV in an interview.

She condemned the killings of demonstrators during the unrest.

“I am supporting this movement from today. Not yesterday, but today. Because these people killed our children. See, 19 people are dead. What is the condition of their mothers and fathers?” she said.

What next?

Karki’s selection to represent the Gen Z protesters underscores both the moral authority she commands and the seriousness of the youth movement’s demands. The Army, now central to restoring order after Prime Minister Oli’s resignation, will be under pressure to respond credibly as negotiations proceed.

Observers say the talks could mark a defining moment in Nepal’s democratic transition, determining whether the current upheaval leads to reform or deeper instability.

Nepal unrest

The violence in Nepal’s Kathmandu continued on Wednesday as angry Gen Z continued to protest against unemployment, brain drain, and poor governance, with dramatic visuals emerging of ministers and their families clinging to army helicopter rescue slings as mobs torched buildings and attacked politicians’ residences across Kathmandu.

The unrest has already forced Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli to resign and flee the country, leaving the army in charge of restoring order.

Tens of thousands of mostly Gen Z protesters vandalised the homes of senior government officials on Tuesday, before setting fire to the Parliament building itself.

The residence of Communications Minister Prithvi Subba Gurung was burned down, while mobs hurled stones at the homes of Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Bishnu Paudel, Nepal Rastra Bank Governor Biswo Paudel, and former Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak.

One widely shared video showed the Finance Minister being chased, beaten, and kicked on the streets, while another depicted Foreign Affairs Minister Arzu Rana Deuba and her husband, former Prime Minister and Nepali Congress chief Sher Bahadur Deuba, under violent attack at their Kathmandu home.

Deuba, bleeding from the face, was later filmed sitting helplessly in a field before being rescued by authorities.

Army mobilised, helicopter rescues

As violence spiralled, the Nepal Army deployed soldiers across Kathmandu, imposing stay-at-home orders and conducting emergency evacuations of political leaders.

Videos from the capital showed ministers being hoisted in rescue baskets onto military helicopters, flying over hotels and smoky skies as fires raged below.

Prisoners also joined the unrest, setting fire to guard houses and attempting a mass breakout.