Several senators in Pakistan are asking billionaire Elon Musk to apologize following his controversial comments on social media. “Anti-Pakistan propaganda” accusations arise from Musk’s recent comments on men of Pakistani origin being linked to the UK’s historic sexual abuses. The demands for an apology have arisen at a time when Starlink satellite internet service, owned by Musk, is waiting for regulatory approvals to operate in Pakistan.
Senate Committee Reviews Starlink’s Application
The committee met on Wednesday for a discussion with the Senate panel on information technology and telecommunications. Committee Chairperson Palwasha Mohammad Zai Khan, while addressing the session, announced that several senators criticized the post by Musk, which he wrote on his platform X, previously known as Twitter. Musk drew attention to rape cases in the UK where he says Pakistani-origin men were involved in a series of rape cases that drew anger among Pakistan lawmakers.
Khan told AFP, “It was said that approval should be given on condition of his apology.” She added that while the apology was not a pre-condition for approval, it was part of the ongoing discussions, and the committee would provide its recommendations to the government.
Controversial Comments Spark Debate
This happened during a sequence of historical instances of sexual abuses that occurred within the UK and are more widely spread throughout Rotherham, with at least 1,400 girls being raped and sexually abused by a group of men majorly from the South Asian continent. Musk came with his response following Priyanka Chaturvedi, an Indian Member of Parliament, published a tweet at the beginning of January stating, “Pakistani grooming gangs.” Musk said “True” to the remark and added fire to the already tense situation.
As the debate continues in the UK, with some arguing it fuels Islamophobia and others claiming it is a subject being silenced, Musk’s comments have opened the floodgates to a wider discussion about his increasing political power, especially since he has taken on a role in U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration.
As Pakistan continues reviewing the application of Starlink, the controversy surrounding Musk’s comment is likely to delay the approval of the satellite internet service, which could have significant implications for the access to internet in the region.