Professor Ali Riaz, vice-chairman of the National Consensus Commission (NCC), warned on Saturday that if the national election is not held in February 2026, the country could face not only internal instability but also a serious threat to national security.

Speaking at a roundtable discussion titled “The Path to Political Understanding for the Election” in the capital’s Karwan Bazar area, he cautioned, “If we cannot agree on structural reforms to the state, I fear that the election will not bring about any fundamental change in our current situation.”

He stressed that the NCC has repeatedly urged political parties to commit to state reforms, and the parties have responded positively. “At some point, the process has to conclude, and the election must take place,” he added.

Reflecting on past crises, Ali Riaz reminded the audience that the nation had already endured the consequences of a 16-year crisis, during which a dictatorship was imposed.

He noted that the NCC began its work on 15 February, and more than 30 political parties have since exchanged views on matters including the Constitution, governance, the judiciary, public administration, and policing.

According to him, the parties have reached consensus on 84 issues.

“Not everyone is in agreement on every point. Out of the 64 issues agreed in the initial stage, a few still carry minor objections or reservations. We did not record dissenting notes at that stage,” he explained.

“Of the next 20 issues, several significant disagreements have emerged on fundamental matters. Out of these 20, 11 have been resolved. In just one of those cases has a single party formally registered dissent,” he added.