PPP Senator Laments Lack of Full Committee Review Before Supporting Telecom Bill

Senator Sherry Rehman, Vice President of the Pakistan Peoples Party, stated on Monday that her party would not endorse any forthcoming fibre‑optic legislation in the Senate unless it undergoes a comprehensive, clause‑by‑clause debate in the appropriate standing committee, with the party’s suggested amendments incorporated into the final version.

Public concern over the motives behind the Pakistan Telecommunication (Amendment) Bill 2026 has grown, particularly because the government is trying to push the measure through both parliamentary chambers while a controversial provision would permit telecom firms to utilise public land without paying a fee.

The legislation was passed by the National Assembly on 11 June, a day prior to the unveiling of the 2026‑27 federal budget, and was subsequently introduced in the Senate on 15 June. It was then referred to the Senate Standing Committee on IT and Telecommunications, where it was temporarily held. On Sunday, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced the formation of an additional committee to examine the bill and present recommendations.

Rehman posted on X on Monday, clarifying that the Senate bloc of the PPP will not support any IT‑related, PTA, or RWA legislation unless it is subjected to exhaustive discussion in the Senate’s Standing Committee, and that the party’s proposed deletions will be reflected in the final text.

She emphasized that the bill forwarded from the National Assembly was blocked in the Senate “by our party because it still incorporates draconian provisions that we have repeatedly requested be excised, notably clause 27‑A.”

This particular provision regulates telecom operators and outlines the conditions under which private land may be acquired.

Our National Assembly members were informed that those clauses had been removed when the bill passed through the lower house; however, when it reached the Senate, several objectionable provisions remained, prompting us to refer it back to the standing committee,” she explained.

“While we unequivocally support the development of fibre infrastructure in Pakistan, we cannot endorse the present bill, which contains intrusive right‑of‑way encroachments, severe penalties, and decision‑making powers that should remain with the judiciary rather than the executive,” she asserted.

“I welcome the establishment of a government‑appointed review committee, but any revised proposal should be routed through the standing committee for proper scrutiny. Our chairperson has been fully apprised of the situation,” she said.

“There is no justification for rushing the bill forward without addressing our concerns and those of other stakeholders. I even propose a public hearing to ensure that citizens feel their voices are being considered,” the senator added.

“Our members will re‑examine the bill in the standing committee, reiterating our proposed amendments, as our stance on right‑of‑way and private property remains unchanged; the latter is safeguarded as a fundamental right,” she added.

“In previous iterations, we submitted numerous amendments only to see critical ones omitted despite assurances they would be retained. I look forward to reviewing the revised bill within the committee and subsequently in the Senate, which remains the proper forum for such deliberations,” she said.

The legislation has attracted scrutiny from members of both the PPP and the PML‑N, who query why clauses concerning telecom towers and associated equipment are embedded in a statute whose primary purpose is to streamline right‑of‑way for fibre deployment.

In recent years, telecom operators have increasingly adopted infrastructure‑sharing strategies following the rollout of the Passive Telecom Infrastructure Policy.

The nation hosts roughly 50,000 telecom towers, with approximately 26,000 owned by Ufone and Telenor, while Jazz operates the remainder. Notably, Jazz has transferred nearly all of its 10,700 towers to Engro Enfrashare. Consequently, almost half of the country’s tower portfolio is now held by independent tower companies such as Engro Enfrashare, Edotco, Tower Power (Pvt) Ltd and TAWAL Telecom.

In response, the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunications issued a clarification stating that the bill does not authorize telecom operators to enter private property without the owner’s consent nor to compulsorily acquire private land.

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