Ali Riaz urges unity, swift action on national charter

Professor Dr. Ali Riaz, Vice Chairman of the National Consensus Commission, on Tuesday underscored the need for unity and swift decision-making in finalizing the country’s proposed national charter.

Speaking at the 14th day of the Commission’s second-phase dialogue with political parties, held at the Foreign Service Academy in the capital on Tuesday, Dr. Riaz said, “We must all succeed together. Our success depends on whether we can agree on a framework for structural reform. Time is short, and we must act accordingly.”

Reminding political parties of the looming deadline, he warned that delays could compromise the entire process. “We are not progressing as fast as necessary on several key issues. After this week, time will become an even greater constraint, and we’ll be forced to make some decisions very quickly,” he cautioned.

Dr. Riaz urged party leaders to work collectively toward a national consensus, noting that broad agreement was essential for developing a meaningful and representative charter.

“We must move toward drafting a National Charter — together, as far as possible. That means everyone needs to continue making positional adjustments, as in previous sessions,” he said. “Our aim should be to finalize the charter by the end of July, based on consensus around the core issues.”

Emphasizing the collaborative nature of the Consensus Commission, Dr. Riaz clarified its role: “The Commission is not a separate entity. It is a platform for partnership. If there is failure, it is a collective failure. As political parties, you bear the primary responsibility. The Commission is simply here to support your efforts.”

The day’s session, which began around 11:15 AM, included participation from several political parties, including the BNP, Jamaat-e-Islami, Nationalist Citizens’ Party (NCP), Gono Odhikar Parishad, AB Party, and the Labour Party.