Senate IT Committee to Hold Open Public Hearing on Telecom Reorganization Amendment Bill

The Senate Standing Committee on Information Technology has decided to conduct an open public hearing on the Telecom Reorganization Amendment Bill, amid growing concerns over its implications for citizens’ property rights and constitutional protections.

Speaking to the media, Chairperson of the Senate Standing Committee on IT, Senator Palwasha Khan, stated that as long as the bill remains under her committee’s review, she intends to ensure a transparent and open public consultation process.

Senate IT Committee to Hold Open Public Hearing on Telecom Reorganization Amendment Bill

Senator Khan expressed serious reservations about the bill, arguing that certain provisions could adversely affect the public’s right to property. She emphasized that any attempt to compromise citizens’ ownership rights is highly concerning and warrants careful scrutiny.

She further noted that public exploitation under the pretext of improving connectivity cannot be justified. According to her, the proposed legislation appears significantly different from the concept of fiberization and, in its current form, is not acceptable.

The senator revealed that the Minister for Information Technology has acknowledged the existence of flaws in the draft legislation. She stressed that approval of the bill without comprehensive input from legal, technical, and environmental experts would be impossible.

“If the Ministry of IT itself considers this a flawed bill, it should withdraw it,” Senator Khan remarked.

The Senate has granted a 45-day extension to allow further consultations and deliberations on the proposed legislation. Senator Khan said that the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) cannot support the bill in its present form and expects substantial changes through amendments during the committee review process.

She also highlighted the need for expert assessment of the bill’s potential environmental impact, arguing that legislation affecting public interest must undergo thorough examination before approval.

See Also: Govt to Review Telecom Reorganization Bill After Political Pushback Over Infrastructure Powers

According to Senator Khan, passing the bill without proper consultation would be contrary to constitutional principles. She further claimed that certain provisions of the PTA Reorganization Amendment Bill may conflict with specific articles of the Constitution.

The senator disclosed that PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari had personally intervened to halt the bill’s progress and ensure additional review.

Addressing concerns related to fiberization, Senator Khan maintained that telecommunications companies should not be granted unrestricted access to private homes under the guise of expanding telecommunications infrastructure.

The Senate Standing Committee will likely engage stakeholders, experts, and members of the public during the upcoming hearings before making recommendations on the future of the bill.