Senators Criticize Musk’s Campaign Amid Starlink’s Pending Clearance

Pakistani senators have expressed strong reservations regarding the registration of Starlink, the satellite internet venture owned by Elon Musk, following the billionaire’s controversial social media statements linking UK grooming gangs to Pakistanis.

The issue was raised during a session of the Senate’s Standing Committee on Information Technology and Telecommunication, chaired by Senator Palwasha Khan.

The meeting, held at Parliament House, addressed key topics including Starlink’s operations, the Personal Data Protection Bill, and the performance of the telecom authority.

The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) chairman informed the committee about the country’s first National Space Policy, approved in 2023, and the establishment of the Pakistan Space Activities Regulatory Board (PSARB) in 2024.

He explained that any satellite service, including Starlink, must register with PSARB and secure a licence from the PTA before commencing operations.

According to the chairman, Starlink applied for a licence in February 2022, but the Ministry of Interior has yet to grant security clearance.

He further disclosed that a Chinese company, Shanghai Spacecom Satellite Technology, is also preparing to enter Pakistan’s satellite communications market.

Call for Apology

Senator Dr. Afnan Ullah Khan condemned Musk’s online comments, calling for an apology. “Why should we allow someone who propagates disinformation against Pakistan to operate here?” he asked.

The PTA chairman clarified that Starlink’s claims of providing 100 Mbps broadband service in remote areas are based on unofficial documents.

He added that the service has agreed to follow government policies and block objectionable content as required.

Concerns Over Content Regulation

Senator Anusha Rahman raised concerns about objectionable content and regulatory enforcement, questioning the telecom authority’s capacity to address these issues. “Introducing a product controlled by an aggressive individual like Elon Musk could lead to significant challenges,” she warned.

The PTA chairman assured the committee that Starlink would operate through a local gateway, ensuring compliance with national regulations.

He emphasized that the company had committed to adhering to Pakistan’s policies and directives.

Foreign Office Reacts

Pakistan’s Foreign Office has also condemned recent xenophobic and Islamophobic remarks targeting the Pakistani community in the UK.

It criticized the demonization of a diverse community based on the actions of a few individuals and called for accountability.

Senator Palwasha Khan highlighted Musk’s repeated claims about grooming gangs, describing them as targeted disinformation amplified by Indian entities.

She questioned whether Starlink had followed up on its licence application, noting the national media’s interest in the matter.

The PTA chairman responded that discussions about Starlink resumed after Musk recently claimed on X (formerly Twitter) that he was awaiting Pakistani authorities’ approval.

Next Steps

The committee resolved to summon the regulatory body for a detailed briefing in the next meeting.

Meanwhile, Minister of State for IT and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja stated that Pakistan remains in contact with Starlink to explore its potential entry into the market.

Musk confirmed earlier this month that he is awaiting Islamabad’s approval to launch Starlink, which could provide a solution to Pakistan’s slow internet speeds.

The country has faced frequent internet disruptions, officially attributed to submarine cable faults, though reports suggest experimentation with a “firewall” system by authorities.