Sunday, 5th April 2026
Khabor Wala Desk
Published: 30th July 2025, 6:40 PM
Professor Ali Riaz, Vice-Chairman of the National Consensus Commission, announced that the commission has made considerable progress on several key issues during ongoing dialogues. He expressed optimism that a comprehensive and acceptable draft national charter will be shared with political parties by Thursday, 31 July.
He made these remarks during his opening statement on the 22nd day of the second phase of dialogue, held on Wednesday (30 July) at the Foreign Service Academy.
Progress on Key Issues
Ali Riaz stated that the discussions are gradually moving toward final decisions. He affirmed the commission’s commitment to reaching consensus and keeping all stakeholders informed without delay.
“One of our responsibilities is decision-making, and we are working diligently to build consensus on outstanding matters,” he said. “We hope to finalise and share the draft with all parties by tomorrow.”
Highlights from the Discussions
| Issue | Current Status |
| Draft Charter for Political Consensus | Expected to be handed over to parties by 31 July |
| Women’s Representation in Parliament | Significant progress; written draft to be shared |
| Fundamental Rights Expansion | All parties agree in principle; differences remain on constitutional amendments |
| Presidential Powers & Responsibilities | Discussion yet to begin |
| BNP’s Proposals & Objections | Clearly documented and influencing the ongoing dialogue |
Ali Riaz noted that proposals on expanding citizens’ fundamental rights have been shared separately with participating parties. While all parties broadly agree on expanding rights, opinions vary on how such changes should be reflected in the constitution.
BNP’s Role and Future Steps
Ali Riaz confirmed that the recommendations and objections submitted by the BNP have been clearly presented to the commission. These contributions are considered vital to the progress of the talks. He added:
“We will deliver a list of agreed-upon issues to all political parties today, and by tomorrow, we hope to present a unified and acceptable draft charter.”
He called on all parties to maintain their current level of cooperation, which he described as essential for accelerating consensus-building.
Agenda Items Displayed at the Meeting
During today’s session, seven agenda items were displayed on screen at the outset:
| Agenda Topics |
| Women’s Representation in Parliament |
| Appointment Guidelines: PSC, Anti-Corruption Commission, CAG, Ombudsman |
| Presidential Powers & Responsibilities (Article 48(3)) |
| Presidential Election Process, Electoral College |
| Structure and Authority of the Upper House |
| Proposals on Expanding Citizens’ Fundamental Rights |
| Core Principles of the State |
The meeting began around 3:00 PM as part of the second phase of ongoing discussions between political parties and the National Consensus Commission, aimed at resolving unresolved constitutional and governance issues such as state principles, presidential elections, and women’s representation in parliament.
Despite the lack of progress on the president’s powers and responsibilities, the commission remains hopeful that discussions on other issues will reach finality swiftly.
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