RAWALPINDI, NOV 3: Director-General Inter-Services Public Relations (DG ISPR) Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry on Monday categorically rejected the Afghan Taliban regime’s allegation of allowing the US drones to carry out attacks in Afghanistan.

“This allegation is false,” said Lt Gen Chaudhry during a briefing to senior journalists, adding that Pakistan has not allowed the US to launch attacks on Afghanistan from its soil.

The military’s spokesperson further clarified that Islamabad and Washington have no such agreement which allows the latter to attack Afghanistan.

Senator Ishaq Dar commended Türkiye’s proactive diplomatic efforts in advocating for peace and justice for the people of Palestine, while Foreign Minister Fidan appreciated Pakistan’s consistent stance on the issue and its solidarity with the Palestinian people

Centreline Report

ISTANBUL, NOV 3 /DNA/ – Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Muhammad Ishaq Dar held a bilateral meeting with the Foreign Minister of Türkiye, Hakan Fidan, on the sidelines of the Ministerial Meeting on Gaza in Istanbul.

During the meeting, both ministers expressed satisfaction over the steady and positive trajectory of Pakistan–Türkiye relations, noting the strong foundation of friendship and cooperation between the two brotherly nations. They reaffirmed their shared resolve to further deepen collaboration across political, economic, and defence sectors for the mutual benefit of both countries.

The two foreign ministers also discussed the evolving situation in Gaza, emphasizing the urgent need for a durable and sustainable peace in the region. They reiterated their shared commitment to supporting the Palestinian cause and working jointly at regional and international forums to end the ongoing humanitarian crisis.

Senator Ishaq Dar commended Türkiye’s proactive diplomatic efforts in advocating for peace and justice for the people of Palestine, while Foreign Minister Fidan appreciated Pakistan’s consistent stance on the issue and its solidarity with the Palestinian people.

Both leaders reaffirmed that the unbreakable bonds of brotherhood, mutual respect, and shared values continue to underpin Pakistan–Türkiye relations. They agreed to maintain close coordination on all major regional and global issues, reaffirming their commitment to peace, stability, and prosperity in the Muslim world.

The meeting underscored the enduring strategic partnership between Pakistan and Türkiye, rooted in historical, cultural, and religious ties, and their shared aspiration to strengthen cooperation in pursuit of common goals.

ISLAMABAD, NOV 03 (APP/DNA): Masood Khan, Pakistan’s former Ambassador to the United States, China, and the United Nations and former President of Azad Jammu and Kashmir on Monday urged the nation to prioritize cohesive narrative building, digital literacy, and institutional preparedness to counter the growing threat of disinformation in the age of artificial intelligence.

Speaking at a seminar hosted by the Centre for Law and Security (CLAS), Ambassador Masood Khan warned that Pakistan must brace for the growing threat of misinformation and disinformation in the age of artificial intelligence.

He noted that while disinformation is not new, AI has amplified its impact with unmatched speed and sophistication.

Reflecting on his long association with internet governance since his role as Chair of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) on Internet Governance in 2005, Ambassador Khan underscored how disinformation, historically considered a “legitimate weapon of war,” has now evolved into a powerful strategic tool in modern conflicts.

He cited examples from global and regional history, including wars between India and Pakistan and the information operations surrounding the global war on terror, to highlight how narrative-building has always played a central role in national security. “Today, AI-driven content, deep fakes, and algorithmic manipulation have made perception management a battlefield in itself,” he said.

Ambassador Khan elaborated on the distinction between information warfare and disinformation, noting that the former involves building a nation’s narrative and legitimacy during peace and conflict, while the latter involves the deliberate distortion of facts. “Disinformation feeds on speed. Before a false story can be corrected, millions have already seen and believed it,” he observed. He warned that unchecked disinformation campaigns could weaken national unity and distort public understanding of geopolitical realities.

Outlining the strategic response, Ambassador Khan called for “authentic actions on the ground, systematic narrative-building, and national cohesion from north to south, east to west.” He said that effective counter-disinformation strategy must begin with internal nation building unifying the country politically, economically and socially and must be supported by state capacity and citizen awareness. “If a nation is fragmented, its narrative will collapse under external manipulation,” he cautioned.

Highlighting Pakistan’s rapid digitalization and growing academic base in new technologies, Ambassador Khan praised the country’s progress, noting that 275 universities are now teaching emerging technologies including artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, blockchain, and the internet of things.

He emphasized that Pakistan’s large freelancer community and global digital connectivity position it well to build technological capacity, but warned that “digital advancement must go hand-in-hand with information integrity.”

Citing recent information conflicts with India, Ambassador Khan contrasted Pakistan’s disciplined and credible communication with what he termed “India’s exaggerated and farcical propaganda.” He noted that India’s disinformation attempts during recent crises backfired, as even Indian citizens and global media questioned official claims. “Our people remained confident and composed because our moral, legal, and political position was stronger; we were defending ourselves against aggression,” he said.

Ambassador Khan also urged think tanks and research centres to collaborate in formulating a legal and institutional framework for countering disinformation and developing expertise in “lawfare” the use of legal tools to fight information warfare. “We must master both the benign and malign dimensions of emerging technologies to build narratives in peace and to protect truth in conflict,” he said, stressing that narrative discipline, strategic communication, and digital literacy were as vital as conventional military strength in modern geopolitics.

Concluding his remarks, Ambassador Masood Khan stated that Pakistan, as a nuclear power and an emerging economy, “has no existential choice but to invest in digital resilience.” He urged policymakers, academics, and media professionals to recognize that in the evolving information age, “wars are no longer fought only with weapons, but with words, algorithms, and perceptions.” He closed with a call for unity, awareness, and responsibility: “Let us ensure that truth, not technology, defines our destiny.”

The 27th amendment is reported to target further judicial reform: the creation of a separate constitutional court, transferring jurisdiction over certain matters from the Supreme Court, and giving the executive greater authority over magistrates and judicial staffing

Bureau Report

KARACHI, NOV 3 /DNA/ – PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, has disclosed that the PML leader headed by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had met with the President Asif Zardari requesting his support on the proposed 27th amendment.

According to the PML-N side, the amendment proposal includes several key components: the establishment of a new constitutional court, wide executive magistrate authority, transfer of judges across jurisdictions, removal of protections for the provincial share in the National Finance Commission (NFC) Award, several amendments to existing constitutional provisions for the judiciary and provinces

Both Bilawal and Asif Ali Zardari listened to the PML-N demands and are expected to take the matter back to PPP leadership for deliberation. The meeting signals renewed momentum behind constitutional reform after the controversial 26th amendment. Bilawal has convened meeting of the CEC on November 6 to further discuss this matter.

The 26th amendment, passed in 2024, introduced major changes in judicial appointment processes, including changing how the Chief Justice of Pakistan is selected.

The 27th amendment is reported to target further judicial reform: the creation of a separate constitutional court, transferring jurisdiction over certain matters from the Supreme Court, and giving the executive greater authority over magistrates and judicial staffing.

It also touches on provincial-federal financial issues: altering the NFC Award structure and potentially impacting the guaranteed provincial shares, a matter long sensitive in Pakistan’s federal governance context.

Bilawal has repeatedly dismissed rumours of a finalized 27th amendment, stating that no minister or official has formally approached him or the PPP on this.

He emphasised that the 26th amendment was achieved through consensus and compromise, and that the PPP wanted a constitutional court but accepted a constitutional bench for wider agreement.

On NFC Award issues, he has argued that provincial shares cannot be reduced, and that a new award must reflect the post-18th amendment reality of greater provincial responsibility.

If the PML-N secures PPP support, the 27th amendment could be tabled in Parliament fairly soon. Its passage would mark a significant shift in Pakistan’s judicial-federal architecture.

However, given PPP’s public caution and insistence on consensus, there may be delays or demands for substantial safeguards—especially to protect provincial rights and judicial independence.

Lawyers’ bodies and opposition parties have already expressed concern that such changes risk undermining the independence of the judiciary. Provincial governments and parties may push back if they perceive the reforms as diminishing their share of resources or powers.

The next few weeks will be critical: PPP leadership is expected to consult internally and with coalition partners before committing to the PML-N’s proposal. Draft language of the amendment has not yet been publicly shared, which means further negotiation and public consultation may still lie ahead.

ISLAMABAD, NOV 3: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari said that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has sought his party’s support to pass the 27th Constitutional Amendment, “proposing the establishment of a Constitutional Court”.

The PPP chief in a post on X on Monday said that a Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) delegation led by PM Shehbaz called on President Asif Ali Zardari and “requested” support for the 27th Constitutional Amendment.

Bilawal said that as per the proposals, the tweak also seeks to amend Article 243 — which pertains to the supreme command of the armed forces — as well as several other key constitutional adjustments.

Article 243 of the Constitution of Pakistan vests the Supreme Command of the Armed Forces in the president and reads, “The President shall, on advice of the Prime Minister, appoint Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, Chief of the Army Staff, Chief of the Naval Staff, and Chief of the Air Staff.

The PPP chairman said that the proposals also include the introduction of executive magistrates, provisions for the transfer of judges, and the removal of protections related to provincial shares in the National Finance Commission (NFC) Award.

The amendment also seeks to return education and population planning to the federal domain and to resolve the longstanding deadlock over appointments to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).

Bilawal said that the PPP’s Central Executive Committee (CEC) will convene on November 6 upon President Zardari’s return from Doha to deliberate on the proposed amendment and decide the party’s stance.

It may be noted here that the federal government is considering the 27th Constitutional Amendment a year after the passage of the 26th Constitutional Amendment that paved the way for the creation of constitutional benches and fixed a three-year term for the Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP).

The 26th Constitutional Amendment also established a deadline of January 1, 2028, for the end of the practice of Riba (interest-based banking) in the country.

Key points of 26th Amendment, 2024 Bill:
Chief Justice of Pakistan’s tenure fixed at three years.
Constitutional benches to be established at the SC and high courts.
Senior-most judge of each bench to serve as presiding officer.
Parliamentary committee to nominate new CJP from panel of three most senior judges.
Committee to propose name to PM, who will then forward it to president for final approval.
JCP, led by CJP and three others, responsible for appointment of SC judges.
JCP to monitor judges’ performance, report any concerns to Supreme Judicial Council.
Complete eradication of Riba (interest) from country by January 1, 2028.