ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader Senator Palwasha Khan on Saturday welcomed the federal government’s decision to withdraw the controversial IT Bill, describing it as a victory for the people and their fundamental and constitutional rights.
Addressing a press conference alongside Member of the National Assembly (MNA) Sehar Kamran and Syed Sibt-ul-Haider Bukhari, Senator Khan said the government had finally acknowledged its mistake by withdrawing the controversial legislation.
“Better late than never. The government has finally admitted its mistake and decided to withdraw the controversial bill,” she said.
She said the withdrawal of the IT Bill was primarily a victory for the people of Pakistan, who had raised their voices to protect their basic and constitutional rights.
“The greatest credit for this success goes to the people of Pakistan, who refused to compromise on their rights under any circumstances,” she said.
She thanked President Asif Ali Zardari and PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari for what she described as their unwavering support on the issue of public rights.
“I am sincerely grateful to President Asif Ali Zardari and Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, who did not compromise for a moment when it came to the rights of the people,” she said, adding that her leadership had encouraged her to continue raising her voice for the public despite pressure.
“Today, this is not the victory of an individual or a political party; it is the victory of the people of Pakistan,” she said.
She reiterated the PPP’s position that no law should be used to deprive citizens of their fundamental and constitutional rights.
“No law can be acceptable if it creates insecurity among citizens regarding their homes, land or property,” she said, maintaining that people were the rightful owners of their property and that no one could be given the authority to take possession of a citizen’s property in the name of legislation.
Senator Khan said the PPP would continue to raise its voice at every forum for the protection of people’s rights, property and constitutional safeguards.
Speaking about the tragic incident at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), Senator Khan expressed deep grief over the deaths of 14 children and offered condolences to their families, particularly the mothers who lost their children.
She voiced concern that evidence related to the incident could be destroyed in an attempt to conceal the facts and demanded that the government immediately make the inquiry report public.
“We fear that an attempt could be made to erase evidence and hide the facts. The government must immediately present the inquiry report before the public so that the truth can come before the nation,” she said.
Senator Khan also questioned the use of Rs22 billion allocated to PIMS over the past three years and called for a complete and transparent audit.
“Where was the Rs22 billion provided to PIMS over the last three years spent? A complete and transparent audit should be conducted, and the public should be informed where and under which heads this money was spent,” she said.
She further expressed concern that lower-level employees could be made scapegoats to protect senior officials.
“We fear that the blame may be shifted onto junior employees in an attempt to protect senior officials. We demand that the actual responsible persons be identified and that no influential individual be protected,” she said.
Senator Khan also alleged that there were concerns about attempts by some senior officials at PIMS to conceal evidence. She said the PPP would not allow the matter to be buried in official files.
She said the party was raising the issue in both houses of Parliament and reiterated its demand for the immediate release of the inquiry report and disclosure of all facts.
Senator Khan also rejected calls for the division of Sindh, saying the people of the province would not accept any attempt to divide it.
She alleged that the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) had long been involved in efforts to divide Sindh, but said the people of the province had rejected such proposals.
“Sindh is one unit, and no attempt to divide it will have the support of the people,” she said.
She added that a resolution against the division of Sindh had also been presented in Parliament and expressed the expectation that it would be passed with a majority.
MNA Sehar Kamran said the IT Bill had been pushed toward imposition on the public and contained provisions that raised serious concerns.
She said the bill included provisions under which a citizen could face a fine for refusing permission to install a tower on their home.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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