Council of Islamic Ideology Chairman Dr Raghib Hussain Naeemi has stated that there has been no discussion regarding a ban on virtual private networks (VPNs).

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 a 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.

Last week, the CII declared VPN usage “un-Islamic” (against Sharia) after the interior ministry demanded 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.

Many people were surprised to see that and wondered about the body’s domain to speak on such matters.

While appearing on Spotlight with Munizae Jahangir via video link on Monday, he explained that the proposal to block VPNs originated from the council’s recommendations approved by its members on June 6 and 7, 2023.

This recommendation was subsequently sent to various institutions, including the PTA, as part of official proceedings, he added.

He emphasised that whether a VPN is registered or not, “its use for unlawful purposes is considered un-Islamic.” But he acknowledged that exceptions could apply in certain circumstances.

In response to whether the government is planning to impose a ban on VPNs, PML-N leader Nasir Butt stated that many individuals have already registered their VPNs. He noted that laws were in place, and if anyone misused them, the law would take its course and accountability would follow.

When asked, he clarified that there are no plans to ban VPNs. He expressed confidence that there was no justification for such a ban, emphasising the importance of creating laws to regulate their use within a legal framework.