The interim government has extended the tenure of the National Consensus Commission (NCC) until September 15, as the commission has yet to finalise a national charter within the original deadline.
A gazette notification signed by Cabinet Secretary Sheikh Abdur Rashid was issued on Monday night to formalise the extension.
The seven-member commission, formed on February 12 this year, is chaired by Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus, with Prof Dr Ali Riaz serving as its vice-president.
Initially, the Commission was given six months to submit its report, with the deadline set for August 15. However, the extension was granted as the commission continues to negotiate with political parties on implementing the consensus reached on reform issues.
In a clarification, the NCC stated that the Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Ministry provides secretarial support, not the chief adviser's office.
After concluding discussions with political parties on July 31, the commission began consultations with experts to devise an implementation mechanism, with plans to resume talks with political parties thereafter.
At a media briefing last Friday, Prof Riaz indicated that the government can extend the commission's tenure if desired.
He also noted that the draft July Declaration would soon be shared with political parties, with its implementation depending on their commitment.
During the initial phase of discussions, the NCC reached consensus on 62 issues. In the second phase, there was unanimous agreement on 11 out of 20 issues, while the remaining nine were agreed upon with some dissent.
The first phase involved separate discussions with 33 political parties from March 20 to May 19, followed by thematic discussions with 30 parties from June 3 to July 31.
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