NCP to skip July Charter event, may sign if demands met

The National Citizen Party (NCP) has decided not to sign the July National Charter at this moment and will refrain from attending the charter signing ceremony scheduled for Friday. The party, however, said it may sign later if its demands are met.

The decision was announced in a statement sent to the media by the party’s Media Cell Secretary, Mushfiq-us-Saleheen, at midnight on Thursday (October 16).

The statement said the NCP would not participate in the signing ceremony of the July Charter scheduled for Friday, as the signing would not establish any legal basis and would remain merely a formality.

It further noted that the party has repeatedly emphasised the need for a legal foundation. Without such a basis, the exercise would become just another one-sided document like the “July Declaration.”

However, the NCP said that since the Consensus Commission has extended the timeframe, it will take part in the process to present its position. It also reiterated that the party would sign the charter later if its demands are met.

The July National Charter signing ceremony is scheduled for Friday afternoon at the South Plaza of the National Parliament. Political parties have been invited by the commission to attend the event. Commission Chairman and Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus has called upon the nation to celebrate the occasion in a grand manner.