The federal government on Sunday firmly dismissed accusations that the IT ministry drafted the Pakistan Telecommunication (Re-Organisation) Amendment Bill, 2026, to grant undue advantages to any individual or corporation. During a press briefing in Islamabad, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar, joined by IT Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja, stated that allegations targeting the IT minister and IT secretary regarding financial gain linked to the bill were baseless.
Tarar highlighted that a parliamentary committee had thoroughly reviewed the legislation and found no proof of favoritism. He noted that the National Assembly had approved the bill on June 11, incorporating six amendments. The law minister explained that the bill primarily addresses challenges posed by housing societies that had initially entered agreements but later obstructed the expansion of telecom infrastructure.
He clarified that the bill mandates obtaining consent from property owners before laying fibre-optic cables on private land. Emphasizing citizens’ rights, Tarar reiterated that no individual would be compelled to allow telecom infrastructure on their property against their will, ensuring protection of private ownership.
Meanwhile, the bill’s Right of Way (ROW) provisions, which had sparked controversy after referral to the Senate Standing Committee on Information Technology, were defended by the IT ministry. The ministry confirmed that these provisions do not authorize telecom operators to enter private properties without owners’ permission or due legal process, nor do they permit compulsory land acquisition.
In a significant development, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif established a high-level committee to review the proposed legislation following public concerns and media scrutiny. At the press conference, IT Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja revealed she had requested the prime minister to initiate a formal inquiry into the allegations against her and the IT secretary concerning their financial integrity.
The minister pledged full accountability should any misconduct be proven and vowed to comply with the prime minister’s decision. Conversely, if the accusations are found to be unfounded, both she and the IT secretary intend to seek legal recourse under the Constitution and applicable laws after consulting legal experts.
