Telecom bill won’t infringe on private rights: minister
Wire excerpt
• Azam Nazeer Tarar rules out telecom activity on private premises without consent; sub-committee formed to review bill • Telecom stakeholders insist reforms essential for connectivity, hope parliament will ‘refine’ proposed legislation ISLAMABAD / LAHORE: Trying to allay the controversy surrounding Pakistan Telecommunication Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill over proposed right-of-way reforms, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar on Tuesday said the government had no intention of occupying private property, or installing telecom towers without the consent of property owners. The minister made these comments after an in-camera meeting of the parliamentary committee formed by the prime minister to review the proposed legislation that could not sail through the Senate after its approval by the National Assembly. The Senate Standing Committee on IT and Telecom had objected to a clause in the bill that would allow free installation of telecom towers in public spaces, including parks, green belts, and government buildings. The law minister, however, said no telecom-related activity would be carried out on private premises without permission, adding that a sub-committee had been formed to…