The bill, seeking changes to a 1996 act, was originally tabled by Khawaja and approved by the National Assembly on June 11 by a majority vote, a day before the presentation of the federal budget 2026-27. It was then taken up in the Senate, where objections were raised about its clauses.

On Friday, a motion to withdraw the Pakistan Telecommunication (Re-organization) (Amendment) Bill, 2026 was moved in the upper house of Parliament by Minister of State for Interior Tallal Chaudhry on behalf of Information Technology Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja.

The motion was passed by the House as the stipulated 90-day period for the bill’s passage was nearing expiry.

“Upon expiry of the prescribed period, the bill would have proceeded to a joint sitting of Parliament, the convening of which may not take place in the near future,” the Ministry of Information Technology said in a statement.

“In order to avoid delays and expedite the legislative process, the ministry has decided to introduce a fresh bill, ensuring that the legislative process proceeds in a timely and effective manner, while retaining the essence of the proposed legislation,” it said.

The bill’s statement of objects and reasons said amendments were needed for “swift and coordinated deployment of telecommunication infrastructure”.

Highlighting the government’s rationale, Khawaja said last month that the existing legal framework did not meet the demands of modern technologies such as 5G.

Under the now-withdrawn bill, no public authority was to demand any “charges, fees, rent, of any nature whatsoever” for access.

If a public authority did not respond within 30 days of a licensee’s request, even after a reminder, approval was to be “deemed to have been granted”.

For private land, licensees were to seek approval from owners/tenants by registered mail. No response in 30 days would allow the matter to be referred to the “appropriate government.”

For housing societies, cooperative schemes and commercial estates, access was to be deemed approved after 30 days, though owners could impose conditions on timing and manner of work.

“Disputes must be settled within 45 days by an officer not below the rank of secretary,” the bill said. It defined “private access” to include individual ownership and collective ownership by housing societies, Defence Housing Authority and cantonments.

“Public authority” covered federal and provincial governments and local bodies. The bill also proposed fines of up to Rs50 million on any owner, tenant or entity that obstructed access.

The clauses triggered a strong backlash, with critics calling them “draconian” and saying that they violated Article 23 of the Constitution, which protects property rights. The Islamabad Bar Association and digital rights groups warned the law could be used for “forced entry” into private premises. Several lawmakers, from both opposition and treasury benches, also raised concerns, while the PPP flat out refused to support the bill in the Senate.

Following public criticism and media reports, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif took notice and constituted a committee headed by Minister for Law and Justice Azam Nazeer Tarar to examine the legislation.

Khawaja later clarified that the bill “would not allow anyone to occupy private land”.

Officials said the new draft would retain right-of-way provisions for public infrastructure but make prior consent mandatory for private property.

Officials said the amendments were aimed at removing right-of-way bottlenecks that have delayed fibre and 5G rollout in Pakistan. They said the nationwide rollout of modern telecommunications services required extensive infrastructure, including fibre-optic networks, telecom towers and both underground and overground installations.

The number of fibre-based internet connections has increased from two million to over five million in the past two years, through various policy and technical interventions, and a target has been set to double this in the next three years.

Telecom operators had lobbied for the law, citing months-long delays in getting no-objection certificates from cantonments, housing societies and provincial authorities.

A first information report (FIR), registered on the complaint of Sub-Inspector (SI) Muhammad Nizam, said that he saw “around 100 people” blocking Sharea Faisal’s track between Saddar and the airport at 3am on August 27.

The FIR quoted him as saying that they were sticks and banners, which bore slogans such as “Arrest the killers of Mir Raza Ali”.

The complainant alleged that the protestors were blocking the road for vehicular movement and pedestrians while shouting slogans. He added that officials tried to reason with the protesters, but they “did not stop and continued shouting slogans”.

The FIR, a copy of which is available with Dawn, was registered on the SI’s complaint at the Ferozabad police station under Sections 147 (punishment for rioting), 149 (every member of unlawful assembly guilty of offence committed in prosecution of common object), 186 (obstructing public servant in discharge of public functions), 341 (punishment for wrongful restraint), and 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace) of the Pakistan Penal Code.

The FIR named 20 identified persons along with “75/80 of their unidentified associates”.

Ali, a 25-year-old Karachi-based businessman, was found dead with a gunshot wound in Gulistan-i-Jauhar last month, a day after he was reported missing on July 28. The case has been mired in controversy with Ali’s family raising questions about its investigation and accusing authorities of trying to bury the facts.

Ali’s family, friends, acquaintances and civil society members have also been gathering on Sharea Faisal near Nursery every night, vowing that they will not give up until justice is provided to Ali.

Judicial commission begins proceedings

On Friday, a judicial commission formed to probe the case and review its investigation began its proceedings, summoning medico-legal officer Osama Sheikh, who had performed Ali’s first autopsy.

Justice Omar Sial of the single-member commission also summoned the two nursery employees who had found Ali’s body and alerted the police, the Edhi volunteers and the policemen who arrived at the scene.

At the outset of the hearing, a prayer was offered for Ali and Justice Sial told Ali’s father, Mir Hussain Ali, “I am aware of what the family is going through.”

The family’s counsel, Advocate Jibran Nasir, also appeared before the commission and alleged that police officials were being barred from performing their duties.

“Legal action is also being taken against people who are helping us,” he continued.

“We have only been provided with copies of the statements of the family members so far,” he added.

Nasir informed Justice Sial that Ali had left his house at 4am on July 28 and he was last seen alive at 4:30am, according to CCTV footage.

“His body was shifted to Jinnah Hospital on July 29 without any police proceedings, and the post-mortem was performed the same day,” he said.

Nasir also stated that the items found in Ali’s possession were handed over to SI Nadeem at the hospital, adding that then-MLO at Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre Osama Sheikh performed the first post-mortem of the body.

A kidnapping case was registered after 11 hours of Ali’s disappearance, he said.

Nasir recalled Ali’s body was recovered on the basis of information by two nursery employees, whom he identified as Yasir and Qaiser.

At this, Justice Sial asked if the two had alerted the police and Nasir responded in the affirmative.

“We are summoning all these people here to record their statements,” the judge said.

Apart from nursery employees, he also summoned Edhi Foundation volunteers, policemen who had arrived at the scene and the MLO.

“Mir Hussain sahib will provide us with all the information of the first three days,” Justice Sial added.

He also asked for investigating officer Siraj Lashari to appear before the commission and assist it.

During the hearing, Justice Sial also said that the commission would release an advertisement asking “anyone who has any information on the case may contact us”. He added that the commission would also provide an email address and a WhatsApp number for this purpose.

“Anyone who provides specific information will be given a reward of Rs100,000,” Justice Sial said, further directing that the notices should also be displayed near the spot where Ali’s was found.

He further said the Sindh government would provide a list of police officers and doctors who had been associated with the case so far, adding that details of all evidence found in the case should also be provided.

The Sindh government focal person was also present on the occasion and assured the commission that “whatever documents are needed will be provided”.

The proceedings were adjourned till 11am on Tuesday.

Dera Ismail Khan Regional Police Officer (RPO) Ghulam Mubashir Makin told Dawn that the IED had been attached to a motorcycle by unidentified people. He said the device exploded at around 10:45am, injuring nine people in the busy market.

He said three peace committee members — Inayatullah, Sharat Khan and Bangi Khan — were among the nine injured in the blast.

The injured peace committee members were taken to the Razmak Hospital for further treatment, while the rest of the injured were taken to a local health facility for medical assistance, he said.

Later, Deputy Superintendent of Police Hidayatullah told Dawn that Inayatullah had died after being taken to the hospital.

Police also said that the IED blast damaged several shops in the market, destroying merchandise and other items inside. Following the explosion, police cordoned off the area and launched a search operation. Security was tightened in and around the market, while personnel conducted a search for evidence and possible suspects.

RPO Makin said police had registered a preliminary report and launched an investigation into the incident. He added that different aspects of the blast were being examined to identify those responsible.

The incident comes amid growing concerns over the deteriorating law and order situation in Upper South Waziristan and Lower South Waziristan. Residents have expressed serious concern over the increasing frequency of bomb blasts, targeted killings, kidnappings for ransom, extortion demands against traders and attacks on police and security forces.

On Wednesday, armed men had attacked a member of a local peace committee in the Sararogha tehsil of Upper South Waziristan. A police official was martyred in the attack, while the peace committee volunteer sustained injuries.

Speaking in the Senate, Kamal said: “No one intends to spare or save anyone. I am saying this on behalf of the prime minister and the entire government that not a single person will be spared”.

He said that the tragedy cannot be an “episode lasting merely a few days,” as he called for accountability and for efforts to prevent such incidents in the future.

The minister warned against “suppressing the issue” and invited the House to work towards a way forward.

“Look at your resources, management and actions and then involve everyone to suggest a way forward,” he said, assuring that the government will support such an approach.

“This is a matter of children’s lives, and we are answerable to god for it. The ministry is nothing; we cannot ruin our afterlife for these ministries,” he remarked.

At the outset of his address, the minister expressed sorrow at the loss of life. “There can be no explanation for this. I am holding myself responsible, and I have presented myself to be held accountable.”

He called for a holistic approach toward investigating the incident, urging that any committee formed to probe should not be “time-bound and should remain open”.

“When you go investigate this incident, you will find so many things associated with it,” he said, pointing to a larger “rot” within the sector.

Kamal held that the health sector was not “ideal”. He explained that “400,000 children between the ages of one and five die every year; 1,300 die every day, and they are all dying preventable deaths”.

He continued: “It is not possible to bring back the infants who died at Pims, but let us look at it as a test from God and protect the next kid from dying.”

Kamal maintained that there was “no point” in making speeches if the government failed to learn from the incident.

“Start from me,” Kamal said, offering himself up for accountability. He continued, “Sit with us and save the next from dying. I am putting the entire ministry at your disposal; every person will be answerable to you.”

He noted that the system was “rotten” and went on to explain: “Where do I find a better person after removing an incompetent one? Everyone says remove one someone else’s thief and hire mine.”

Kamal said that as the day ends today, “1300 children would have died across the country”. Speaking about the inquiry committee’s report, which he said will be presented by tonight, Kamal assured the House: “If you don’t trust it, fair enough [..] we will listen to you.”

The health minister once again reassured the House that, “No one will be spared, no matter how influential they are”.

He went on to ask if the children dying across the country every day, “are they not a mother’s children”. At this, he urged, “We have to come up with a solution, and I am inviting you to guide us and [..] give us a strategic roadmap”.

Kamal offered that the health ministry will provide all the relevant input and information. “Sit with us and find a way forward on how to prevent the next child from dying due to negligence within the resources that we have. I assure you of its implementation”.

However, he added that if matters were to move in that direction, “no MNA should call and ask why a certain doctor was removed”. Calling for “radical reforms” in the health sector, Kamal urged that the Pims fire “can serve as a basis for how we can prevent more children from dying”

The minister further stated that he was “withholding his information” on the fire until the committee’s report. “If you are dissatisfied (with the report), then form a committee, and everyone stands ready to be held accountable”.

Concluding his address, Kamal urged that the “issue should be only closed at a point where we can prevent similar incidents in the future”.

“I am willing to sit here all night and listen,” he added.

Rs5m compensation announced for affected families

Earlier in the day, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Tariq Fazal Chaudhry announced Rs5 million compensation for each family affected by the fire.

Recalling Wednesday’s incident while speaking to the media at Pims, Chaudhry lamented that 14 infants had fallen victim to “someone’s criminal negligence”.

He added that the prime minister had constituted an inquiry committee that was expected to present its report today, assuring that all those “on-duty individuals found guilty of negligence will be given exemplary punishment”.

The minister said the grief of the affected families could not be compensated for.

“Neither can their children be brought back, nor can their grief be reduced,” he added. “But to provide some relief […] the prime minister has announced that Rs5 million will be given to all the affected families.”

Chaudhry said he was visiting Pims to hand over a cheque to one of the affected families on behalf of the prime minister, adding that the compensation amount would be deposited in the accounts of the deceased children’s mothers.

“This is a small effort to share their sorrow,” he remarked.

Responding to a question about demands for DNA tests of the bodies, he said most of the deceased children died in the incident not because they were burnt but because of suffocation due to smoke.

“So all of them could be identified,” he said, adding that after birth, infants had tags with their mothers’ names on their arms. “So they were easily identified.”

More to follow