Ali Riaz: ‘July Charter’ Likely to Be Finalised Next Month

Vice-Chairman of the National Consensus Commission, Professor Dr. Ali Riaz, expressed optimism today about the ongoing political dialogue, stating that efforts are on track to finalise the much-anticipated "July Charter" by next month.

“The discussions have been extremely positive. We are making steady progress, and we hope to finalise the national charter by July, establishing consensus on several key national issues,” Riaz said at a press briefing following the second round of day-long talks with political parties at the Foreign Service Academy.

Key Points from the Discussions

When asked about the agenda of today’s meeting, Riaz said political parties had raised concerns about Article 70 of the Constitution during the previous round of talks.

“Following today’s discussions, we have agreed to amend Article 70 to ensure that party members are only mandated to vote along party lines on money bills and confidence motions,” he said.

Significant progress was also reported on parliamentary committee reforms. Political parties agreed that four key committees—Public Accounts, Privileges, Estimates, and Public Undertakings—would be chaired by the opposition, proportionate to their representation in Parliament.

Women’s Representation & Judicial Reforms

On the issue of women’s representation in Parliament, Riaz noted that all parties agreed in principle to reserve 100 seats for women. “The discussions are ongoing, and we hope to reach a consensus next week,” he added.

He also highlighted growing agreement on reforming the appointment process of the Chief Justice, saying, “There is a general consensus on amending Articles 95(1) and 48(3) of the Constitution. While a final decision is pending, all sides agree on the need for change.”

Bicameral Legislature and Party Participation

Regarding the proposal for a bicameral legislature, Riaz acknowledged that while there is broad consensus, a few parties have expressed objections in principle. The issue will continue to be discussed in future sessions.

Commenting on Jamaat-e-Islami’s absence, he said, “The commission is in regular contact with all political parties. We’ve reached out to Jamaat, and we hope they or their representatives will participate in tomorrow’s session.”

Background and Participants

The second round of talks by the National Consensus Commission commenced today at the Foreign Service Academy, aiming to finalise reform proposals and draft the widely discussed "July Charter."

Participants in the talks included BNP Standing Committee member Salahuddin Ahmed, Khilafat Majlis Secretary-General Dr. Ahmad Abdul Kader, and representatives from several other political parties. However, no representatives from Jamaat-e-Islami were present despite being invited.