Government says telecom bill will not allow occupation of private property
The government said the proposed Pakistan Telecommunication Amendment Bill 2026 was introduced to improve telecom infrastructure and not to provide unfair advantages. Officials also said a formal inquiry has been requested to examine the allegations.
Government rejects allegations
Speaking at a joint press conference, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar and IT Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja denied accusations that the Pakistan Telecommunication Amendment Bill 2026 was designed for financial gain.
Tarar said a parliamentary committee found no evidence that the bill was intended to favour any individual or company. He added that the National Assembly approved the legislation after making six amendments.
According to the law minister, the purpose of the bill is to resolve issues related to housing societies that create obstacles for telecom infrastructure projects.
Property owners’ rights remain protected
Tarar clarified that the bill does not allow telecom companies to enter private property without permission.
He stressed that property owners must still give consent before fibre-optic cables can be installed on private land. He added that citizens have the legal right to refuse if they do not want telecom infrastructure on their property.
The government also said the proposed law does not permit compulsory occupation or acquisition of private land.
Why the bill became controversial
The Pakistan Telecommunication Amendment Bill 2026 was passed by the National Assembly on June 11 but later faced criticism when it reached the Senate Standing Committee on Information Technology.
Several lawmakers raised concerns about the Right of Way (ROW) provision. In response, the IT Ministry clarified that the ROW clause does not allow telecom operators to enter private property without the owner’s permission or legal process.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also formed a high-level committee to review the legislation after public concerns emerged.
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IT minister requests inquiry
IT Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja said she personally asked the prime minister to order a formal inquiry into allegations made against her and the IT secretary.
She said she would accept full responsibility if any wrongdoing is proven during the investigation.
However, she added that if the allegations are found to be false, both she and the IT secretary reserve the legal right to take action under the Constitution after consulting legal experts.
