ISLAMABAD, NOV 7: Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman has warned that any change to Article 243 that undermines democracy would be unacceptable.

Speaking at a press conference in Islamabad, he said: “No draft of the proposed 27th Amendment has been made public so far, so we cannot comment on it at this stage.”

Maulana Fazl added that the government had withdrawn 35 clauses during the 26th Constitutional Amendment, and including any of these in the 27th Amendment would amount to disrespecting the Constitution.

He emphasised that the 18th Amendment had strengthened provincial powers, and any attempt to reduce them would face strong opposition. “JUI-F advocates for granting provinces greater authority, not diminishing their rights. Provincial powers can be expanded, but reduction is unacceptable,” he stated.

On other issues, Fazl criticised the government for failing to make progress on interest-free financial reforms and for not registering religious schools properly. “The government is attempting to force religious schools under the Ministry of Education, which is unacceptable,” he noted.

He also called for a collective approach to address national challenges, saying, “I consider the country’s children as my own. Nothing is being handled properly, and fixing this requires collective thinking.”

Maulana Fazl concluded by stressing the need for a natural governance system. “During the 26th Amendment, all parliamentary parties were in mutual contact. Society cannot accept an unnatural system; natural governance must prevail,” he said, reiterating JUI-F’s position on constitutional safeguards and provincial rights.

His remarks come as the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) pushes to rally support for the 27th Constitutional Amendment, a year after the passage of the 26th Amendment.

The ruling party, in addition to tweaking Article 243, has also proposed establishing a Constitutional Court and amending the National Finance Commission (NFC) Award.

The PML-N-led federal government is reportedly mulling introducing a new designation named “Commander of Defence Forces” (CDF) under the proposed amendment to Article 243.

Government sources said that the new title was aimed at ensuring greater coordination and unified command among the three armed services, The News reported.

Article 243 of the Constitution vests the supreme command of the armed forces in the President of Pakistan.

It also states that the federal government will have control and command of the armed forces.

While the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) — a key ally of the PML-N — has voiced support for a tweak to Article 243, it has rejected proposed changes to the NFC award formula.

RAWALPINDI, 07 NOV (DNA) — The Rawalpindi Development Authority (RDA) has issued a strong warning to the public to stay alert against illegal advertisements, sales, and purchases of plots in the University Town housing scheme, following numerous complaints received from citizens.

Acting on the directives of the Secretary, Housing, Urban Development and Public Health Engineering (HUD&PHE) Department, RDA took serious notice of the matter after receiving multiple public grievances against the scheme.

Director General RDA, Kinza Murtaza, has formed a Joint Investigation Team (JIT) to conduct a comprehensive inquiry into the alleged irregularities in accordance with relevant laws and regulations.

To prevent further unlawful activities, the authority has also requested the Deputy Commissioner Rawalpindi to block the CNIC numbers of the owner and sponsor of University Town through NADRA. Additionally, RDA has directed a ban on all land transfers, sales, and purchases associated with the developer.

The authority has further recommended that the names of the scheme’s owner and sponsor be placed on the Exit Control List (ECL) and an FIR be lodged against them. The public has been cautioned not to invest in University Town, located in Mouza Bajnial, Service M-2, Tehsil and District Rawalpindi, until its legal status is verified. RDA urged citizens to confirm the authenticity of any housing scheme through its official channels before making any investment to avoid potential financial loss. — DNA

ISLAMABAD, NOV 7 /DNA/ – U.S. Chargé d’Affaires Natalie Baker called on Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar @MIshaqDar50 today.

The DPM/FM noted with satisfaction the positive momentum in Pak–U.S. relations. Discussions also covered the efforts of US & Arab-Islamic countries to promote peace and stability in Palestine and the wider Middle East.

By our correspondent

ISLAMABAD: The Joint Secretary Sports of the Ministry of Inter-Provincial Coordination (IPC), Amjad Gill, has assumed the additional charge of Director General Pakistan Sports Board (PSB).

According to official details, the IPC Ministry assigned the additional charge to Amjad Gill following the departure of Paistan Sports Board Director General Yasir Pirzada to Saudi Arabia for participation in the Islamic Solidarity Games 2025.

During this period, Amjad Gill will oversee all administrative and operational matters of the Pakistan Sports Board until Yasir Pirzada’s return.

By Faisal Malik

ISLAMABAD, NOV 7 /DNA/ – A significant meeting was held between, Shoaib Zafar Ali Khan, CEO of MG Capital Motors, Usman Gheba, Coordinator to the Advisor of Chairman Senate, and Kamran Munir, Director of Radisson Blu Muree on Thursday.

The meeting focused on expanding cooperation between the automobile and real estate industries in Pakistan. All participants expressed a shared vision for mutual growth, innovation, and sustainable develop-ment.

During the discussion, CEO MG Capital emphasized the need to create strong synergies between Pakistan’s automotive and construction sectors, highlighting how such collaboration could boost investment and employment opportunities nation-wide.

Mr. Usman Gheba, Coordinator to the Advisor of Chairman Senate appreciated the forward thinking approach of both MG Capital and Radisson Blu, noting that inter-industry collaboration is vital for Pakistan’s economic progress. He further stated that initiatives combining technology, infrastruc-ture, and entrepreneurship can redefine the country’s business landscape.

Director Kamran Munir of Radisson Blu Muree expressed his enthusiasm for future ventures, stressing that the partnership between both industries could pave the way for long-term strategic projects across the country.

The meeting concluded with a mutual agreement to work together on innovative models that integrate real estate and automotive development, a move seen as a new chapter of corporate cooperation in Pakistan.

By Faisal Malik

ISLAMABAD, NOV 7 /DNA/ – A significant meeting was held between, Shoaib Zafar Ali Khan, CEO of MG Capital Motors, Usman Gheba, Coordinator to the Advisor of Chairman Senate, and Kamran Munir, Director of Radisson Blu Muree on Thursday.

The meeting focused on expanding cooperation between the automobile and real estate industries in Pakistan. All participants expressed a shared vision for mutual growth, innovation, and sustainable develop-ment.

During the discussion, CEO MG Capital emphasized the need to create strong synergies between Pakistan’s automotive and construction sectors, highlighting how such collaboration could boost investment and employment opportunities nation-wide.

Mr. Usman Gheba, Coordinator to the Advisor of Chairman Senate appreciated the forward thinking approach of both MG Capital and Radisson Blu, noting that inter-industry collaboration is vital for Pakistan’s economic progress. He further stated that initiatives combining technology, infrastruc-ture, and entrepreneurship can redefine the country’s business landscape.

Director Kamran Munir of Radisson Blu Muree expressed his enthusiasm for future ventures, stressing that the partnership between both industries could pave the way for long-term strategic projects across the country.

The meeting concluded with a mutual agreement to work together on innovative models that integrate real estate and automotive development, a move seen as a new chapter of corporate cooperation in Pakistan.

ISLAMABAD, NOV 07 (APP/DNA): Nazriya Pakistan Council Trust, Institute for Strategic Studies, Research and Analysis (ISSRA), and National Defence University (NDU) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), marking a significant step towards promoting education, intellectual harmony, and national awareness among the youth of Pakistan.

Speaking at the signing ceremony held at Aiwan-e-Quaid, Director Collaboration, ISSRA, Commodore Farooq Iqbal Khattak, said that partnerships between institutions such as ISSRA–NDU and Nazriya Pakistan Council Trust would pave the way for joint initiatives in national security workshops and other important areas. He appreciated the Council’s ongoing efforts to introduce the heroes of the Pakistan Movement to the younger generation on their commemorative days.

Gauhar Zahid Malik, Executive Secretary of the Nazriya Pakistan Council Trust, termed the MoU a positive development and expressed hope that it would help strengthen bilateral relations and open new avenues for collaboration between the two organizations over time, said a press release issued here.

Former Senator Razina Alam Khan, Chairperson of the Council’s project Taleem Network Pakistan, said the partnership would help accelerate ongoing efforts to educate out-of-school children and bring them into the mainstream of learning.

Representatives from both institutions were present on the occasion, including Captain Hamza Tahir from ISSRA–NDU, and from the Nazriya Pakistan Council, Nargis Nasir, Salahuddin Chaudhry, Sultan Hamid Malik (Director Admin & Finance), and Hameed Qaiser (Director Media & Programs).

The MoU aimed to foster joint efforts in education and research, organize collaborative events to promote the Ideology of Pakistan among the youth, and strengthen mutual institutional ties.

ISTANBUL, NOV 7: With intensified efforts to curb cross-border terrorism from neighbouring Afghanistan, Pakistan has presented its “evidence-based, justified and logical” demands to mediators — Turkiye and Qatar — during the third round of talks being held in Istanbul with the Afghan Taliban regime, a Foreign Office spokesperson said.

“Yesterday, our talks with the Afghan Taliban regime commenced in Istanbul with the presence and participation of mediators,” FO Spokesperson Tahir Hussain Andrabi said at a weekly press briefing in Islamabad on Friday.

He said the Pakistani delegation handed over evidence-based, justified, and logical demands to the mediators with the singular aim of putting an end to cross-border terrorism

The spokesperson added that the mediators fully endorsed Pakistan’s stance based on evidence provided by its delegation “as well as by the tenets of international law and principles”.

The mediators are discussing Pakistan’s demands with the Afghan Taliban delegation point by point,” he added.

“Any other speculation being circulated on social media, particularly by Afghan handlers and Afghan accounts, is either pure speculation or deliberate disinformation,” Andrabi said.

Islamabad and the interim rulers in Kabul kicked off the third round of talks in Istanbul on Thursday to ease escalating tensions following last month’s deadly border clashes.

The Istanbul meeting follows the earlier five-day talks that resulted in a last-minute interim agreement. The second round of talks between Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban regime began on October 25 in Istanbul, Turkiye.

The talks collapsed after Pakistan refused to accept the Taliban delegation’s “illogical” arguments and refusal to address Islamabad’s concerns regarding cross-border terrorism. However, mediators persuaded Pakistan to give the talks another chance, which ultimately resulted in an agreement to uphold the ceasefire.

At the end of the previous round of talks, a joint statement issued by the Turkish foreign ministry said that all parties had agreed to maintain the ceasefire and establish a monitoring and verification mechanism to ensure peace and penalise any violations.

“All parties have agreed to put in place a monitoring and verification mechanism that will ensure maintenance of peace and impose a penalty on the violating party,” the communique read.

Meanwhile, Pakistan rejected claims made by the Afghan regime regarding the latest exchange of fire at the Chaman border crossing, saying that the incident was triggered from the Afghan side.

In a statement posted on X, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting said that firing was initiated by the Afghan forces, prompting Pakistani security personnel to respond “in a measured and responsible manner”.

“The situation was brought under control due to the disciplined and professional action of our forces,” the statement said, adding that the ceasefire at the border remains intact.

The ministry said Pakistan remains committed to resolving border matters through dialogue and expects “reciprocity and seriousness” from Kabul.

“Pakistan has consistently worked to maintain peace along the Pak-Afghan border,” the statement added, urging Afghan authorities to avoid steps that escalate tensions.