The National Consensus Commission held its second round of talks with various political parties, including the BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami, on Tuesday, June 3, at the Foreign Service Academy. The meeting began at 11 a.m. and was presided over by the Commission’s Vice President, Ali Riaz.

In his opening remarks, Ali Riaz clarified that the proposals prepared by the Commission are not final. Rather, only those issues on which a consensus is reached through dialogue will be included in the upcoming “July Accord.” He further stated that the Commission aims to complete drafting the accord by the end of July.

This second round marks a continuation of the first phase of talks, which took place from February 15 to May 19. During this new phase, discussions are being held on a thematic basis, with particular emphasis on unresolved issues from the Constitutional Reform Commission's proposals.

According to Ali Riaz, certain foundational points still lack consensus and will receive special focus in the ongoing discussions. Among these are proposed amendments to Article 70 of the Constitution, increasing opposition leadership roles in parliamentary standing committees, expanding the number of reserved seats for women in parliament, and revisiting the tenure of a caretaker government.

The dialogue sessions will continue in stages, with at least one more round planned before the Eid-ul-Azha holiday and additional meetings to follow afterward. The aim is to ensure that all participating political groups are heard and that the most critical reform areas are addressed collectively.

Ali Riaz emphasized that the July Accord will be built not on unilateral proposals but on mutual agreement. He stressed the importance of broad-based political understanding in shaping the future of democratic reforms in the country.

As the process unfolds, the Commission expects constructive participation from all parties involved and is hopeful that the ongoing discussions will yield a shared vision for a reformed political and constitutional framework.