ISLAMABAD: Amid mounting political scrutiny and public concern over property rights, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday ordered the formation of a high-level committee to urgently review controversial provisions of the Telecommunication Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2026, particularly clauses governing right-of-way access for telecom infrastructure.
The committee, chaired by Federal Minister for Law and Justice Azam Nazir Tarar, includes Senator Sherry Rehman, IT Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja, Economic Affairs Minister Ahad Cheema, and Attorney General for Pakistan Mansoor Awan, alongside legal and information technology experts.
It has been tasked with examining key sections of the draft legislation – namely Sections 2(qb), 2(ma), 27A and 27B – focusing on regulatory powers for the installation of telecommunications infrastructure and access arrangements on private property and within housing societies.
According to its terms of reference, the panel will also evaluate operational and regulatory concerns surrounding permissions, deployment mechanisms, and implementation frameworks in the telecom sector.
The prime minister directed that the review be treated as a priority and that recommendations be submitted without delay.
The move comes against the backdrop of intensifying debate in Parliament over the bill, which proposes expanded authority for telecom operators to install mobile towers and fibre-optic cables on private property.
The legislation, introduced by Federal Minister for Information Technology Shaza Fatima Khawaja, has already been passed by the National Assembly and is currently under consideration in Senate.
Particular controversy has centred on a newly introduced provision – Section 27B – which proposes fines of up to Rs50 million against property owners, tenants, landlords, or institutions that refuse or obstruct right-of-way access for telecom infrastructure.
Critics argue the clause could enable excessive pressure on citizens to permit installations, raising serious concerns over due process and property rights.
During deliberations of the Senate Standing Committee on IT and Telecommunications, chaired by Senator Palwasha Khan, members voiced strong objections to the wording and potential implications of the bill. Senators Afnan Ullah and Sadia Abbasi questioned whether the proposed framework could undermine legal protections for private property and compel residents to grant access under threat of heavy penalties.
Committee members warned that the legislation, as drafted, risked allowing telecom companies expedited access to private premises, potentially without sufficient safeguards or consent mechanisms.
Lawmakers emphasised that no citizen should be compelled to allow infrastructure installation without clear legal protections and transparent procedures for mutual agreement. Officials from the Ministry of IT and Telecommunication rejected claims that the bill would permit forced acquisition or arbitrary entry onto private property.
They clarified that installations of telecom towers and fibre networks would continue to operate under existing legal frameworks and contractual arrangements, with the primary objective of accelerating 5G rollout, expanding broadband coverage, and resolving long-standing right-of-way disputes between federal and provincial authorities. Despite these assurances, the Senate committee has deferred approval of the legislation, directing a detailed clause-by-clause review.
Lawmakers have called for revisions to ambiguous language and stronger protections for private property rights before the bill proceeds further.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026