The Council of Islamic Ideology has declared virtual private networks (VPNs) usage “un-Islamic” (against Sharia) as the interior ministry demands the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) block “illegal VPNs” across the country.

“The government has the authority to prevent access to immoral content and harmful material from an Islamic perspective,” CII Chairman Allama Dr Raghib Hussain Naeemi said in a statement on Friday.

Earlier in the day, the interior ministry asked the PTA to block “illegal VPNs” throughout the country, citing concerns that such networks were being used by terrorists to facilitate violent acts and access pornographic or blasphemous content.

VPNs, or Virtual Private Networks, are commonly utilised worldwide to bypass restrictions and access blocked content. In Pakistan, users often employ VPNs to visit sites like X and others that are not accessible.

In its statement, the PTA reported that it has blocked over 100,183 URLs that contained blasphemous material, as well as 844,008 indecent websites. The authority also noted that around 20 million attempts to access indecent sites are made daily from within Pakistan, all of which are blocked at the international gateway level.

CII Chairman Naeemi was of the view taking measures to block or limit access to “unethical and offensive content” is in accordance with Sharia.

The CII praised the implementation of its recommendations regarding VPNs. “Using VPNs to access illegal content or blocked websites is unlawful under Islamic law.”

Naeemi went on to add that it was the government’s “duty” to impose restrictions on such means that undermine societal values and legal compliance. He noted that VPNs are primarily used to access prohibited websites that have been blocked by the government.

When asked, he said that the VPNs serve as a technical means for users to conceal their true identity and location. “According to Islamic principles, the legality of any action depends on its purpose and method.”

He pointed out that VPNs can also be used for online theft, making it difficult to trace the perpetrator. The CII chairman declared that using VPNs to access blocked or illegal content “is a violation of both Islamic and societal laws.”

Using VPNs falls under the category of “assistance in sin,” which is prohibited by Sharia, he said and added that it was the “duty” of every Muslim to uphold the Constitution and laws of their country, provided they do not conflict with Islamic principles.

He further noted that accessing blocked websites, as permitted by the government for societal benefit, constitutes a violation of Islamic ethics.

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Dr Naeemi mentioned that the Council had presented recommendations regarding the misuse of social media during its meeting on May 3, 2023.

Among such recommendations was a call for the PTA and the Federal Investigation Agency to expedite the registration process for social media websites.

The council also urged “immediate action” to block VPNs, further emphasizing the need for regulatory measures to address concerns about online safety and ethical standards.

Meanwhile, former information minister Fawad Chaudhry took a dig at the government for giving VPNs an “Islamic touch”.

In an interview with Shaukat Piracha on his programme Rubaroo, he said: “We are habitual to this.”

He was of the view that such a decision was “unnecessary” as placing a ban on the VPNs was an administrative decision and should be that way.

“What is needed to issue a fatwa or give it a Sharia touch,” he said and lamented that Pakistan has been running “like this”.