TTAP Seeks IT Minister’s Removal Over Telecom Bill Row

The opposition alliance Tehreek-i-Tahafuz-i-Ayin-i-Pakistan on Sunday demanded the removal of IT and Telecom Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja, escalating a political dispute in Islamabad over proposed amendments to Pakistan’s telecommunication law. The alliance said the legislation raised serious concerns over property rights, public consultation and parliamentary scrutiny.

The controversy centres on the Pakistan Telecommunication (Re-organisation) (Amendment) Bill 2026, which seeks changes to the country’s 1996 telecom framework. The bill was moved by the IT minister and approved by the National Assembly on June 11 before being sent to the Senate Standing Committee on Information Technology and Telecommunication.

The matter has gained attention after debate on social media and in political circles over the proposed right-of-way provisions. Critics argue that the draft could expand telecom companies’ access to land and premises for network infrastructure, including towers and fibre-related installations, while supporters say the law is needed to improve connectivity.

TTAP spokesperson Akhunzada Hussain Ahmad Yousufzai said the legislation should not move forward without proper review and accused the government of pushing a sensitive bill without meaningful consultation. He claimed the proposed measure could weaken constitutional protections linked to private property and citizen privacy.

The alliance also alleged that the bill could expose property owners to heavy penalties if they resisted telecom infrastructure work. According to TTAP’s position, such provisions would be unacceptable in a democratic system unless strong safeguards, transparent procedures and consent-based protections were clearly written into law.

TTAP further demanded that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif remove the IT minister from her post, arguing that the controversy reflected poor handling of legislation affecting millions of citizens. The alliance also called for opposition members to be included in the inquiry committee formed to examine the bill, saying a government-only panel could not satisfy concerns about neutrality.

The government has pushed back against the criticism. The IT ministry said the right-of-way provisions do not allow telecom operators to enter private property without permission or due legal process, and insisted that the amendments are not designed to authorise compulsory acquisition of private land.

Officials have linked the proposed changes to Pakistan’s wider digital infrastructure needs, including faster fibre deployment, improved telecom investment and support for next-generation connectivity. The ministry has also pointed to the recent 5G spectrum auction, in which 480 megahertz were sold for $507 million, as evidence that clearer infrastructure rules are needed.

The dispute now places the Senate committee at the centre of a high-stakes legislative review. If the government revises the bill with broader consultation, it may reduce political resistance; if the concerns remain unresolved, the telecom amendment could become another flashpoint between the ruling coalition, opposition parties, digital rights advocates and citizens worried about land and privacy protections.