In her first address as Nepal’s caretaker Prime Minister, Sushila Karki, 73, has vowed to bring to justice those responsible for the violence and destruction during last week’s anti-Government protests, while also announcing compensation and recognition for the victims of the ‘Gen Z’ movement.

In a key announcement during a high-level meeting with secretaries and senior Government officials, Prime Minister Karki declared that those who lost their lives during the protests would be honoured as “martyrs” and their families will receive a compensation of one million Nepalese rupees (NPR).

Karki, the country’s former Chief Justice and the first woman to hold the Prime Ministerial office, formally assumed charge at 11 am on Sunday at the newly constructed Home Ministry building in Singhdurbar Secretariat, after the original Prime Minister’s Office was set ablaze during the unrest.

Appointed by President Ramchandra Paudel on the recommendation of the Gen Z protest movement — which led the two-day uprising that ousted former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli — Karki steps into power amid a deeply fractured national mood and widespread public anger over police violence, corruption and Government censorship.

In a key announcement during a high-level meeting with secretaries and senior Government officials, Prime Minister Karki declared that those who lost their lives during the protests would be honoured as “martyrs” and their families will receive a compensation of one million Nepalese rupees (NPR).

“The loss of lives in the Gen Z protests is a national tragedy. These individuals stood for democracy and digital freedom. Declaring them martyrs is a small gesture to honour their sacrifice,” Karki stated.

While expressing solidarity with the protesters’ demands, the Prime Minister strongly condemned the acts of arson and vandalism that occurred during the protests, particularly on September 9, the second day of the agitation.

“The kind of arson and vandalism that has taken place is a criminal act. This was carried out in an organised manner. Those responsible must be punished,” she said. Karki emphasised that the Gen Z protesters were not involved in the violent acts, suggesting the presence of external or politically motivated elements seeking to derail the movement.

She directed Chief Secretary Ek Narayan Aryal to begin immediate repairs of police posts and public infrastructure damaged during the protests.

The Gen Z protests, which began as a response to a Government-imposed ban on social media, escalated into a nationwide movement symbolising youth-led outrage over corruption, censorship, and governmental apathy. The unrest turned deadly, prompting former PM Oli’s resignation on Tuesday, shortly after protesters breached his office demanding accountability for the violence.

Official figures provided by Chief Secretary Aryal on Sunday placed the death toll at 72, including 59 protesters, 10 prisoners and three police personnel. The unusually high number of casualties has intensified public scrutiny and calls for reform.

With her background as Nepal’s former Chief Justice and a long-standing advocate for civil rights and justice, Prime Minister Karki is expected to bring a legal and rights-based approach to governance. Her appointment, backed by the very group that led the political uprising, signals a dramatic shift in Nepal’s power dynamics.

The relocation of the Prime Minister’s Office to the Home Ministry’s new building within the Singhdurbar complex marks both a symbolic and practical change as the Government attempts to rebuild both infrastructure and public trust.

As Nepal navigates this politically volatile period, all eyes will be on PM Karki’s ability to deliver justice, initiate reforms and restore peace while upholding the democratic aspirations voiced by the Gen Z movement.