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The Senate Standing Committee on Information Technology of the National Assembly, led by Senator Palwasha Khan, met on Wednesday to examine the licensing process for satellite internet services in Pakistan, with particular emphasis on Starlink’s activities.
During the meeting, the chairman of the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) updated attendees on Starlink’s application for registration, which was submitted on February 24, 2022. He explained that the application has been sent to the Ministry of Interior for security clearance and is currently under examination by the newly formed Pakistan Authority for Space and Regulatory Bodies (PASRB), which will ultimately decide on the licensing.
Senator Palwasha Khan voiced her concerns regarding Elon Musk, the owner of Starlink, citing his recent social media posts as problematic. She criticized Musk for what she described as an anti-Pakistan stance, alleging that he was supporting India’s narrative against Pakistan. "It appears Elon Musk has teamed up with India to spread false accusations against Pakistan," she stated.
In reaction to her comments, Senator Afnan Ullah Khan proposed that Starlink should only receive a license if Musk formally apologizes for his statements. "Before proceeding with the license, the PTA should take Musk’s remarks against Pakistan into account. He needs to apologize for his comments first," he said.
Previously, IT and Telecom Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja announced that Starlink had officially registered in Pakistan. Musk later confirmed on social media that discussions with the government were ongoing.
Musk Endorses Anti-Pakistan Narrative
Recently, Musk supported an anti-Pakistan rhetoric promoted by Priyanka Chaturvedi, a member of the Rajya Sabha associated with India’s Shiv Sena (UBT) party. Chaturvedi ignited controversy by stating that the blame for grooming gangs in the UK should not be placed on all of Asia, but should instead target "one rogue nation"—Pakistan. Musk, the CEO of SpaceX and Tesla, publicly declared her statement to be "true" on social media, thus aligning himself with her position.
The conversation surrounding grooming gangs in the UK has been heightened following comments from Labour leader and Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who recalled overseeing the initial prosecution of an Asian grooming gang during his time with the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) from 2008 to 2013. Chaturvedi took issue with Starmer’s narrative, questioning the inclination to link the issue of grooming gangs to entire ethnic communities.
Musk also expressed his disapproval of Starmer, who has declined calls for a new national inquiry, instead supporting the recommendations from an earlier extensive inquiry into child sexual exploitation.
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