Islamabad : IT and Telecom minister , Shaza Fatima Khawaja, is known for her own style of running the ministry . She has been centre of many controversies in her tenure as a federal minister for IT and Telecom . Since she has strong political patronage being a close relative of a very powerful federal minister she considers herself over and above the law and accountability. Encouraged by her style , she clearly misused her office to give unlawful favour to Telecos , which are considered as a ” Power lobby” in Pakistan.
Sources said initially the Pakistan Telecommunication (Re-organisation) (Amendment) Bill 2026 was meant to facilitate for laying down of optic fiber in untapped areas in many parts of Pakistan to provide better internet and other related services to the people of Pakistan. However , at a later stage of preparation the controversial provision of granting Telecos the right of way (RoW) in public and private properties without consent of the owner to install towers were added.
Sources said laying down of optic fiber to improve quality and speed of internet and other related services is an urgent need of Pakistan and it was the basic purpose of the amendment in the Telecom Bill 2026 , but IT ministry prioritised Telecos over Pakistan ‘s interests for reasons better known to the concerned and for it the RoW for installing towers in private and public properties provision without prior permission of the property owners (individual or organisation) was inserted.
This provision of the contentious bill is against the basic law of Pakistan and the constitution which protects the right of the individual and organisations against any use of their properties and assets against their will.
It seems the IT ministry overlooked the law and constitution in preparing the controversial bill to amend the existing law to give undue favour of RoW to Telecos .The IT ministry facilitated Telecos by adding provision of huge fines on the owners of the private and public properties in case anyone denies RoW to any Telecos for setting up towers in his/ her private properties.
Sources said minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja took personal internet in getting the controversial Telecom Bill 2026 passed from the national assembly.
The passing the controversial Telecom Bill 2026 by the National Assembly is a big question mark on Pakistan’s law-making system. It shows the National Assembly can pass any bill for making a law without due consideration and debate. In this case , the National Assembly has failed to act as per the constitution of Pakistan. It’s a serious lapse on the part of the lower house of the parliament.
Now when it has established that Telecom Bill 2026 was passed in violation of the constitution , the National Assembly must act to probe the motive behind the moving of the contentious Telecom Bill 2026.
Thanks to Senate which promptly took notice of the move and aborted the bill in question. Had the bill sailed through the Senate as well it would have put the private and public sector property owners in deep trouble and they would have no option to go to the court and face terrible pain there for years to protect their basic and fundamental constitutional right to stop Telecos to use their properties for installation of towers.
Telecos towers pose serious health threats if these are installed in any residential area as they generate very dangerous heath hazard waves. There is no example in the world where Telecos are allowed to install towers in the houses or even populated areas. Telecos towers are generally erected in open areas like roadsides or unpopulated areas in the entire world.
An expert in these systems spoke to NEWSMAN on the condition of anonymity. He said IT minister is either illiterate or she has some personal interest in moving such a contentious Telecom Bill 2026 in the parliament. He deplored that a federal minister should have not made such a dangerous and unlawful move having serious threat to the lives of the people”.