Pakistani lawmakers have called on Elon Musk, head of the U.S. Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and owner of Starlink, to issue an apology for his alleged anti-Pakistan remarks on social media.
The demand was raised during a meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Information Technology, chaired by Senator Palwasha Khan, in Islamabad on Wednesday. The meeting focused on the licensing process for satellite internet services in Pakistan, particularly Starlink’s operations.
Senator Palwasha Khan voiced strong concerns over Musk’s recent social media campaign, accusing him of supporting India’s narrative against Pakistan. “It appears Elon Musk has partnered with India to spread false allegations against Pakistan,” she asserted.
Senator Afnan Ullah Khan proposed that granting Starlink a license should be contingent on Musk issuing a public apology. “The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) must take Musk’s anti-Pakistan campaign into account before issuing a license. He should apologize before any further steps are taken,” he emphasized.
The Special Secretary for IT highlighted the importance of ensuring sensitivity in providing satellite internet services in Pakistan. He also clarified that Musk’s recent tweets claiming Starlink was awaiting approval were misleading, as there had been no direct engagement with Pakistani authorities.
