Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser and former Vice-Chair of the National Consensus Commission Professor Ali Riaz has said political considerations should take precedence over legal ones in implementing the July Charter.
"Beyond legal considerations, the first and foremost consideration in politics must be political," he said adding "We are reminding everyone that a public mandate has been delivered, and political parties have also received public support. Therefore, a coordination is required, and the responsibility lies with the politicians."
Professor Ali Riaz made the observation on Saturday morning while responding to journalists' questions at a press conference at Foreign Service Academy in the capital. The briefing was organized to present the results of the recently concluded referendum.
In response to a question about whether the BNP, which is set to form the government, has any legal obligation to implement the reforms, Ali Riaz said the referendum was held as an expression of the sovereign will of the people. Therefore, all political parties, including the BNP, have moral and political responsibility in this regard.
"I hope political issues will be considered in that spirit, rather than being confined only to written legal obligations," he added.
He further said the public opinion came based on the proposals presented in the referendum. BNP has always played a leading role in reflecting the aspirations of the people. Therefore, it is hoped that the party will take these expectations of the people into consideration when it comes to running the country and reforming the constitution.
Prof Riaz also pointed out that political parties had included reform pledges in their election manifestos and that top leaders had publicly urged citizens to vote "Yes" in the referendum. "Therefore, the victory of the 'Yes' vote is not merely the government's agenda; it is the agenda of the state and of all political parties," he said.
Public approval of party manifestos represents an indirect endorsement, the referendum constituted a direct mandate from the people for substantial constitutional reform, he said, and adding that "It must be viewed as a public verdict and as an expression of the people's will for reform."
Regarding implementation priorities, Ali Riaz said that the sequencing would depend on how the work progresses. However, since a specific directive calls for the formation of an upper house, it must be completed within six months. The ruling party and relevant political parties will determine the priorities, he added.
At the beginning of the press conference, Ali Riaz emphasized that political parties bear the responsibility of implementing the clear public mandate expressed through the referendum.
