PPP will not pass disputed telecom bill containing 'draconian clauses': Sherry Rehman

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Senator Sherry Rehman on Monday said her party would not allow any legislation related to the IT sector, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), or right of way (RWA) to pass through the Senate unless it was thoroughly scrutinised and amended by the relevant standing committee.

"For the record, PPP in the Senate will not be passing ANY IT/PTA/RWA legislation which is not thoroughly discussed threadbare in the Standing Committee of Senate with our deletions assured in the final bill," Sherry said in a post on X.

The National Assembly (NA) passed the Pakistan Telecommunication (Re-organisation) (Amendment) Bill, 2026 on June 11. The Senate Standing Committee on IT and Telecom has since reviewed it and deferred further consideration for clause-by-clause scrutiny.

Sherry said the bill transmitted by the NA had been stopped in the Senate because it "still contained draconian clauses we had repeatedly asked to be removed, especially 27A." The section deals with rights of way for telecommunications infrastructure. The senator also raised concerns about related provisions, including Section 27B, which allowed the government to impose fines of up to Rs50 million for obstructing or delaying the grant of such rights.

According to Sherry, party members in the NA had been informed that the controversial provisions had been removed before the NA passed the legislation. "Our NA members were told these have been removed when the bill was moved there," she wrote, adding that while some objectionable provisions had been deleted, "all were still not deleted when the bill was transmitted to us in the Upper House."

"This is why we insisted on sending it to the Standing Committee in the Senate," Rehman wrote.

Read: Right-of-way reform critical for digital economy

She stressed that the PPP supported the expansion of digital infrastructure but opposed provisions it considered excessive. "We are certainly not against fiberisation in Pakistan, but have been refusing to pass the current bill with existing encroachments on right of way, egregious penalties and even redressal mechanisms, which should not be in the hands of the executive," she said.

While welcoming the formation of a government committee to review the legislation, Sherry insisted that any revised draft should first be examined by the Senate committee. "These should be brought to the Standing Committee once re-proposed. Our chair is fully briefed. There is no hurry to push it through without satisfying us and other representatives," she said.

The senator also suggested a public hearing on the topic in an effort to "give people confidence that they are being heard."

Further, she added that PPP lawmakers would examine the bill in the Standing Committee and seek the same amendments when the legislation returns to the committee. Rehman also argued that private property protections were constitutionally guaranteed, stating, "The latter is protected as a fundamental right."

Referring to previous negotiations on the bill, Sherry said, "In the past, we have given all amendments only to find key ones missing despite assurances they will be in the bill." The senator expressed her hope to see the amended bill in the committee and Senate, saying, "That is the appropriate forum."