Tuesday, 14 October, 2025
Ali Riaz, vice-chairman of the National Consensus Commission, said the commission has received “expert opinions” recommending an ordinance to hold a referendum on implementing the National Charter, also known as the July Charter.
The commission held the fifth day of its third-phase discussions on Wednesday.
Riaz noted that a consensus on holding the referendum had already been reached during the previous four meetings.
He added, “We are now working to reach a consensus on the structure and timing of this referendum.”
Riaz also said the commission has held multiple meetings with experts on the referendum, and they have “unanimously agreed” that an ordinance must be issued to organise the referendum as part of the Charter’s implementation.
The National Consensus Commission has already finalised a draft of the Charter, incorporating proposals on state reforms that political parties have agreed on, along with a pledge for its implementation.
Differences, however, persist among the political parties over the process of implementation.
While parties like the BNP have called for the Charter’s implementation through an elected parliament, the Jamaat-e-Islami and some allies insist on implementing it before the elections.
This disagreement has led to a deadlock, prompting Jamaat and like-minded parties to propose a referendum. Initially opposed to the idea, the BNP and its allies have since softened their stance.
Meanwhile,
Jamaat-e-Islami Nayeb-e-Ameer Dr Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher on Wednesday said his party wants the referendum on the July National Charter 2025 to be held in November 2025 before the next national election.
“The referendum on the July Charter should be held before the national election that means by November,” he told reporters emerging from the dialogue between the National Consensus Commission (NCC) and political parties in the capital.
The discussion was held on implementation of the July Charter 2025 at the Foreign Service Academy.
The Jamaat leader said if the referendum and the national election are held simultaneously, it will create complications.
"Now we have all agreed that the July Charter will be accepted through the referendum...Many have said that the referendum and the national election will be held together but we said the referendum is a different matter and the national election is a different matter,” he said.
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Ali Riaz, vice-chairman of the National Consensus Commission, said the commission has received “expert opinions” recommending an ordinance to hold a referendum on implementing the National Charter, also known as the July Charter.
The commission held the fifth day of its third-phase discussions on Wednesday.
Riaz noted that a consensus on holding the referendum had already been reached during the previous four meetings.
He added, “We are now working to reach a consensus on the structure and timing of this referendum.”
Riaz also said the commission has held multiple meetings with experts on the referendum, and they have “unanimously agreed” that an ordinance must be issued to organise the referendum as part of the Charter’s implementation.
The National Consensus Commission has already finalised a draft of the Charter, incorporating proposals on state reforms that political parties have agreed on, along with a pledge for its implementation.
Differences, however, persist among the political parties over the process of implementation.
While parties like the BNP have called for the Charter’s implementation through an elected parliament, the Jamaat-e-Islami and some allies insist on implementing it before the elections.
This disagreement has led to a deadlock, prompting Jamaat and like-minded parties to propose a referendum. Initially opposed to the idea, the BNP and its allies have since softened their stance.
Meanwhile,
Jamaat-e-Islami Nayeb-e-Ameer Dr Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher on Wednesday said his party wants the referendum on the July National Charter 2025 to be held in November 2025 before the next national election.
“The referendum on the July Charter should be held before the national election that means by November,” he told reporters emerging from the dialogue between the National Consensus Commission (NCC) and political parties in the capital.
The discussion was held on implementation of the July Charter 2025 at the Foreign Service Academy.
The Jamaat leader said if the referendum and the national election are held simultaneously, it will create complications.
"Now we have all agreed that the July Charter will be accepted through the referendum...Many have said that the referendum and the national election will be held together but we said the referendum is a different matter and the national election is a different matter,” he said.
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