Staff Correspondent:

The National Consensus Commission on Wednesday began the sixth day of its second-round talks with political parties.

The discussion started around 11AM at the Foreign Service Academy in the capital, with the Commission’s Vice Chairman Prof Ali Riaz presiding over the session.

Thanking the political leaders who present at the dialogue, Ali Riaz

He thanked the leaders of political parties for participating in this process and said, “Like a broken record, let me say it again, we all have to remember that we literally had to come here at the cost of many lives. We did not come here in a day’s struggle. So, all you have to consider that everyone can move forward by keeping the interests of the state and the interests of the nation above all else.”

Wednesday’s agenda includes discussions on the State’s fundamental principles, a bicameral parliament (including the electoral system for the upper house), formation of a National Constitutional Council, the presidential election process, and women’s representation in parliament.

Leaders from around 30 political parties, including the BNP, Jamaat-e-Islami and the National Citizen Party (NCP), took part in the day’s dialogue, presenting their respective positions on the proposed reforms.