Today marks the 17th anniversary of the signing of the historic Charter of Democracy (CoD), signed in 2006 by former Prime Ministers Nawaz Sharif and Benazir Bhutto Shaheed, aimed at establishing a new political system of harmony and reconciliation in Pakistan. The document aimed to ensure the continuity of a strong democratic system, with the two mainstream parties, PML-N and PPP, setting aside their differences and adopting the thirty-six point COD. They pledged to respect the electoral mandate of representative governments, not undermine each other through extra-constitutional ways, and refrain from soliciting military support to come into power or dislodge a democratic government. The CoD also outlined constitutional amendments, code of conduct, free and fair elections, and civil-military relations, covering most aspects that had been hampering the growth of democracy in Pakistan. Other parties of the Alliance for the Restoration of Democracy later signed the CoD document, including Jamiat Ulema-e-Pakistan, Jamhoori Watan Party, Pakistan Democratic Party, Jamiat Ahle Hadith, and Pakistan Christian Party. The adoption of CoD has witnessed positive outcomes, such as the completion of terms by the last two assemblies. The PPP formed the government in the center after the 2008 elections and completed its term in 2013, while the PML-N completed its five-year tenure from 2013 to 2018. The historic 18th amendment is also an outcome of CoD, under which infringements on the constitution of Pakistan were reversed, greater autonomy was given to provinces with the devolution of many subjects, and the concurrent list was abolished. Additionally, the 18th amendment shifted the powers of the President to the parliament, and the NWFP was given the nomenclature of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.