Elon Musk's Starlink faces backlash in Pakistan over social media comments

Elon Musk found himself facing criticism from Pakistani senators on Wednesday, both over his satellite internet service, Starlink, and his recent social media campaign.

During a Senate committee briefing, Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) Chairman Maj. Gen. (retd) Hafeez-ur-Rehman explained that Starlink cannot be licensed in Pakistan until it gets government approval.

Starlink had applied for a license back in February 2022, but the process has been delayed. The application is currently with the Ministry of Information Technology for security clearance, and it is waiting on approval from the newly formed Pakistan Space Activities Regulatory Board (PSERB). Once the regulatory body gives the green light, the telecom regulator will move forward with granting the license.

“Starlink can’t be given a license until the government clearance is received,” Rehman clarified. He also pointed out that Starlink has agreed to comply with government policies, including shutting down its service if directed to do so.

Rehman also revealed that another company has applied for a license in Pakistan. The committee has now called on PSERB officials to provide an update on the situation during the next meeting.

Senator Dr. Afnanullah took aim at Musk, criticizing his recent social media campaign against Pakistan. He raised concerns about whether companies should be allowed to act this way while still seeking to do business in the country. “Elon Musk should apologize first, then think about the license,” he said.

The Senate Standing Committee on IT and Telecom, chaired by Senator Palwasha Khan, discussed the issue. The IT Ministry assured that Starlink is committed to following the government’s orders, including the potential shutdown of its service when required.

Senator Anusha Rehman also slammed Musk, saying, “Starlink hasn’t even arrived yet, and there’s already propaganda going on. What will happen when it does?”

Musk’s tweets had drawn attention to grooming gangs in the UK, where men of Pakistani background were involved in abusing vulnerable, mostly white girls. These gangs operated across several UK towns and cities, including Rotherham, Rochdale, Oxford, and Bristol, for nearly four decades.

In response, Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed concern about “racist and Islamophobic” commentary targeting the British-Pakistani community. A spokesperson condemned efforts to demonize an entire community based on the actions of a few individuals.