Chief adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus on Thursday announced that the national election and the referendum on the July Charter will be held on the same day.
In a televised address to the nation the chief adviser said that the interim government, during its advisory council meeting on the day, approved the July National Charter (Constitutional Reform) Implementation Order, 2025.
The order, having completed the required formalities, is now ready for gazette notification.
鈥楾he order includes key provisions to implement the July Charter, such as holding a referendum on the proposed constitutional reforms and the subsequent formation of a Constitutional Reform Council,鈥� Yunus said.
He said that after careful consideration, the government decided that the referendum would take place on the same day as the next national parliamentary election.
鈥楾his means that, like the national election, the referendum will be held in the first half of February. This arrangement will not hinder the reform process in any way. Rather, it will make the election more festive and cost-effective,鈥� the chief adviser said.
Professor Yunus said that the referendum ballot would contain a single question, covering four key proposals for voters to approve or reject.
The question would be 鈥楧o you give your consent to the July National Charter (Constitutional Reform) Implementation Order, 2025 and the following constitutional reform proposals contained in the July Charter?鈥�
The four proposals are: a) During the election period, the caretaker government, the Election Commission, and other constitutional bodies will be formed in accordance with the procedures outlined in the July Charter.
- b) The next parliament will be bicameral. An upper house of 100 members will be formed based on the proportion of votes received by political parties in the national election. Any amendment to the Constitution will require the approval of a majority of the upper house.
- c) The winning political parties will be obliged to implement 30 agreed proposals included in the July Charter 鈥� covering issues such as increasing women鈥檚 representation in parliament, electing the deputy speaker and parliamentary committee chairpersons from the opposition, limiting the prime minister鈥檚 term, strengthening the president鈥檚 powers, expanding fundamental rights, ensuring judicial independence, and enhancing local government.
- d) Other reforms outlined in the July Charter will be implemented in line with the commitments made by the political parties.
On the referendum day, voters would express their opinion on these four matters by voting either 鈥榊es鈥� or 鈥楴o鈥� to the single question on the ballot.
Yunus explained that if a majority votes 鈥榊es鈥�, a Constitutional Reform Council will be formed, consisting of elected members from the new parliament.
He said that the council would function concurrently with the national parliament and would be tasked with finalising the constitutional reforms within 180 working days from its first sitting.
Professor Yunus in his address announced that within 30 working days of completing the reforms, an upper house will be formed based on the share of votes received by political parties, with its tenure lasting until the end of the lower house鈥檚 term.
The chief adviser also said that, in line with the July Charter鈥檚 pledge, provisions would be made to incorporate the July National Charter into the Constitution 鈥� a step included in the newly approved implementation order.
Calling the consensus achieved through the charter a historic milestone, Professor Yunus聽 said that while minor differences remain on certain proposals, the overall agreement among political parties on 30 major constitutional reform issues represents an exceptional national achievement.
He said that although there might appear to be divergence in political rhetoric, a proper analysis of the July Charter showed that the differences were not so deep, and that this national consensus would give the nation the courage to move forward.