KATHMANDU: UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein has condemned the impeachment motion moved against the Chief Justice of Nepal Sushila Karki.

Releasing a statement on Friday, the UN High Commissioner Zeid warned that such actions suggested a concerted attempt by the Government of Nepal to undermine the independence of the judiciary in the country.

“Chief Justice Sushila Karki has been instrumental in a number of high-profile and politically sensitive decisions, and therefore the attempt to remove her gives rise to serious concerns about the Government’s commitment to transitional justice and the rule of law,” Zeid said in the statement.

Accusing CJ Karki of interfering with the executive and breaching the principles of separation of power, lawmakers of ruling Nepali Congress and CPN Maoist Centre had registered an impeachment motion against her on April 30.

The impeachment motion suggests a fundamental misunderstanding regarding the role of an independent judiciary, the High Commissioner noted.

The statement mentioned that the impeachment was filed in order to bar Karki from participating in a number of politically sensitive cases that she had announced the Supreme Court would consider in the near future.

“I urge the Nepal authorities to respect the independence of the judiciary, to withdraw what appears to be a politically motivated impeachment motion and to commit to the processes of transitional justice and accountability that are so important if Nepal is to overcome the tragic legacy of its decade of conflict,” the UN High Commissioner mentioned.

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