Senate IT Committee Accuses Elon Musk of Supporting Anti-Pakistan Narrative, Demands Apology for Starlink Launch in Pakistan

The Senate Standing Committee on IT and Telecom has accused SpaceX CEO Elon Musk of promoting an anti-Pakistan stance, claiming that he is supporting India’s narrative against Pakistan. The committee, chaired by Senator Palwasha Khan, discussed the satellite policy during its session, where Senator Anusha Rahman mentioned that, according to PTA, the satellite policy was introduced under the caretaker government.

Chairperson of the committee, Senator Palwasha Khan, accused Musk of using his influence to propagate a false narrative against Pakistan and aligning with India. Senator Afnan Ullah Khan demanded that the launch of Starlink in Pakistan be conditioned on Musk issuing an apology to the country, labeling his comments as misleading.

Chairman of the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), Major General (r) Hafeez-ur-Rehman, clarified that Starlink would not be granted a license until security clearance is obtained from the government. He informed the committee that Starlink’s operations in Pakistan would proceed only if aligned with government policies and launched through designated gateways.

The PTA chairman also noted that Starlink had applied for a license in February 2022, but the matter was sent for security clearance to the Ministry of Interior. The issue is currently with the newly established Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO), and PTA will issue the license after receiving approval from the authority.

Regarding satellite internet services, a dedicated space regulatory authority has been set up to oversee low Earth orbit (LEO) services. The committee requested a detailed briefing from the regulatory authority regarding Starlink’s licensing process and concerns related to the space policy.

Additionally, the committee discussed the Personal Data Protection Bill 2023, with the Ministry of IT and Telecommunication clarifying that the bill had been approved by the cabinet in 2022 before being sent to the Ministry of Law. The committee also addressed the performance of the Telecom Foundation, which runs schools and health services, and emphasized that it should continue its work independently.