In an unprecedented statement on Friday, the Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) chief, Dr. Raghib Naeemi, declared that using VPNs to access “immoral or illegal content” violates Sharia. The CII, which advises parliament on aligning laws with Islamic teachings, faced backlash over this proclamation.
A CII member clarified to Dawn that Dr. Naeemi’s remarks were his personal views, not an official decision by the council. He emphasized that accessing immoral content via technology should not be categorized as a religious issue.
Lawmakers and Scholars React
Prominent religious scholar Maulana Tariq Jameel criticized the stance, arguing that if watching inappropriate or blasphemous material is the concern, then mobile phones themselves should be declared un-Islamic before targeting VPNs. Lawmakers, activists, and technical experts echoed similar sentiments, denouncing the statement as misguided.
Wahaj Siraj, CEO of Nayatel, highlighted that technology is inherently neutral, with its ethical implications depending on how it is used. Rights activist Nighat Dad described the decree as contradictory to constitutional privacy rights, alleging it aimed to suppress free expression on social media.
Senator Palwasha Khan, chair of the Senate Standing Committee on IT and Telecom, announced a meeting on November 18 to address concerns over the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority’s (PTA) restrictions on VPN usage. She questioned whether the PTA intends to monitor user content.
Senator Allama Nasir Abbas of Majlis Wahdat Muslimeen criticized the ruling elite, accusing them of enacting laws and decrees based on personal agendas rather than representing the people’s interests.
PTA’s VPN Registration Drive
Amid the controversy, the PTA reiterated its call for commercial VPN registration. It encouraged software houses, call centers, banks, embassies, and freelancers to register VPNs online through its website. Freelancers can provide project or employer documentation for registration.
The PTA claimed the process is free, with approvals typically granted within 8 to 10 days. According to the authority, approximately 20,000 companies and freelancers have already registered their VPNs.
