The government has appointed Professor Ali Riaz, former vice-chairman of the recently expired National Consensus Commission, as the special assistant to Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus. The Cabinet Division issued a notification on Thursday, signed by Cabinet Secretary Dr. Sheikh Abdur Rashid, confirming the appointment. In his new role, Riaz will enjoy the status, salary, and privileges equivalent to that of an adviser. Professor Riaz, a distinguished professor of politics and government at Illinois State University in the United States, previously led the Constitutional Reform Commission formed after the July uprising and later served as vice-chairman of the National Consensus Commission. He played a key role in the commission’s dialogues with political parties on reform issues before its term ended on October 31.