Parties agree to hold referendum to implement July Charter: Ali Riaz

Ali Riaz, Vice-Chairman of the National Consensus Commission, has announced that political parties have reached a consensus on holding a national referendum to implement the July National Charter. 

Speaking to reporters after the commission’s fourth round of dialogue with political stakeholders on Sunday, Riaz described the agreement as “the first major step” in the implementation process, stressing that public participation is essential to legitimising the charter’s proposed reforms.

Following initial consultations on 11, 14 and 17 September, the commission allowed time for inter-party discussions. This led to a unified position in the fourth meeting on both the referendum and wider constitutional reforms. The commission also proposed that the legislative assembly formed after the February parliamentary elections be structured in a way that enables the smooth passage of constitutional amendments aligned with the July Charter—a proposal that has also secured cross-party support. While some parties had initially suggested seeking an advisory opinion from the Supreme Court under Article 106 of the Constitution, most now believe this step may no longer be necessary.

Riaz commended the political parties for demonstrating “tolerance and courage” by moving beyond partisan interests to foster national unity. He confirmed that the progress has already been reported to Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus, who has urged the commission to finalise its recommendations swiftly. The commission aims to submit its final report to the government by 15 October. To date, it has received nominations for charter signatories from three-quarters of the 30 participating parties.

A further meeting with political parties and alliances is scheduled for the afternoon of 8 October, alongside separate consultations with the commission’s expert panel to clarify the legal and constitutional framework underpinning the proposed reforms.