After the appointment of Sushila Karki as Nepal’s interim Prime Minister, political stability and peace are slowly returning to the country. The nationwide curfew has been lifted, schools in Kathmandu are set to reopen, and the interim government is now preparing for cabinet expansion.
Cabinet Expansion Underway
Interim Prime Minister Sushila Karki, who was appointed on Friday night, is consulting with colleagues to finalize ministerial names. Sources suggest the expansion will be modest, with Karki likely to retain key portfolios including Home, Foreign Affairs, and Defense.
On Saturday, Karki visited the Civil Hospital to meet those injured in anti-government protests. This was her second hospital visit since taking the oath of office, signaling her commitment to addressing public grievances.
Schools to Reopen in Kathmandu
The Kathmandu Metropolitan Authority announced that schools will reopen from Monday. Teachers and staff will report on Sunday for administrative work, damage assessment, and preparation. Only schools deemed operationally safe will resume classes, after being closed since September 8 due to the youth-led protests.
Normalcy Restored Across Nepal
Shops, vegetable markets, malls, and public transport have reopened after days of unrest. Long-distance buses from Kathmandu to other regions resumed on Saturday.
While restrictions have been lifted across much of the Kathmandu Valley, police confirmed that sensitive areas will remain under partial restrictions to prevent further protests.
Clean-up drives are underway at vandalized government buildings, some of which were set on fire during the violent Jen-Jeen movement against former PM KP Sharma Oli. The protests, sparked by the government’s social media ban, left at least 51 people dead and forced Oli and his ministers to resign, with the army temporarily taking control of security.
Judicial Records Destroyed
The Supreme Court of Nepal confirmed that crucial judicial records were destroyed after protesters attacked court buildings during the unrest.
Chief Justice Prakashman Singh Raut expressed sorrow at the loss of historical documents, but vowed that the judiciary remains committed to delivering justice:
“We pledge to resume court work as soon as possible to meet citizens’ expectations of justice.”
