Pakistan lawmakers to Elon Musk: Apologise first, then seek approval

Pakistani senators are calling for an apology from Elon Musk, accusing him of spreading anti-Pakistan propaganda as his Starlink satellite internet service seeks regulatory approval in the country, a lawmaker told AFP. Starlink has applied for a license to operate in Pakistan but is awaiting clearance. A senate committee on information technology and telecommunications recently met to discuss the application.

Committee chair Palwasha Mohammad Zai Khan told AFP that several senators condemned Musks recent comments on his social media platform, X, which they deemed anti-Pakistani. These comments relate to Musks repeated highlighting of claims that men of Pakistani origin were involved in historical child sexual abuse cases in England, primarily targeting white girls.

Khan stated that the committee discussed recommending approval of Starlinks license on the condition of an apology from Musk. She clarified, We are not saying it should be a pre-condition, but it was a part of the discussion, and we can only give our recommendations to the government.

Musks criticism began earlier this month, targeting the UK governments initial reluctance to hold a national inquiry into these abuse cases. One prominent case involved the sexual exploitation of at least 1,400 girls in Rotherham over a 16-year period. Subsequent investigations and court cases resulted in the conviction of numerous men, many of South Asian descent.

The issue resurfaced after an Indian lawmaker posted on X on January 8, stating, They arent ASIAN Grooming Gangs but PAKISTANI grooming gangs. Why should Asians take the fall for one absolute rogue nation? Musk responded with True. — elonmusk (@elonmusk)

These historical abuse cases are a sensitive topic in the UK, with some arguing they are exploited to fuel Islamophobia, while others contend that open discussion is suppressed.

Beyond his business ventures in electric vehicles and space exploration, Musk has recently become more politically active, particularly aligning himself with figures in US politics.

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