ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Senate Standing Committee on Information Technology has decided to hold open public hearings on the controversial Pakistan Telecommunication Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, as concerns mount over its potential impact on private property rights and constitutional protections.

Speaking to the media, Committee Chairperson Senator Palwasha Khan said the legislation would remain under committee review and would not move forward without extensive consultation with stakeholders, experts and the public.

“The bill appears to strike at citizens’ right to property, which is deeply concerning,” she said, warning that connectivity and digital infrastructure expansion could not come at the expense of fundamental ownership rights.

The senator argued that the proposed legislation, in its current form, goes beyond the scope of fibre-optic expansion and contains provisions that could allow telecom companies greater access to private properties. She stressed that such clauses could not be approved without substantial revisions.

Palwasha Khan revealed that the Ministry of Information Technology had acknowledged shortcomings in the draft legislation, adding that expert opinions would be sought before any decision is taken. She said environmental implications of the bill would also be reviewed as part of the consultation process.

The Senate has granted a 45-day extension for deliberations on the legislation, providing lawmakers additional time to examine its legal, technical and constitutional dimensions.

The PPP leader said her party would not support the bill in its present form and indicated that extensive amendments could fundamentally reshape the legislation before it returns to Parliament for approval.

She further claimed that PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari had personally intervened to halt the bill’s progress, underscoring the political sensitivity surrounding the proposed law.

Critics argue that certain provisions of the bill may conflict with constitutional guarantees and could grant telecom operators excessive authority under the guise of expanding fibre and telecom infrastructure. Supporters, however, maintain that regulatory reforms are necessary to accelerate Pakistan’s digital connectivity goals.

The public hearings are expected to bring together legal experts, industry representatives, environmental specialists and civil society groups, setting the stage for a broader national debate on balancing digital infrastructure development with citizens’ constitutional rights.