ISLAMABAD: Renowned Islamic scholar Maulana Tariq Jamil on Sunday expressed his concerns over the recent fatwa issued by the Islamic Ideological Council, declaring Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) as un-Islamic.
In a statement made to a private channel, Maulana Tariq Jamil questioned the reasoning behind this decision, suggesting that if VPNs are considered haram, then mobile phones should be similarly deemed unlawful.
Maulana Jamil pointed out that mobile phones, like VPNs, can be used to access a wide range of content, including materials that might be restricted by VPNs. He further emphasized that the potential harm of mobile phones in terms of their use for accessing inappropriate content could be far greater than that of VPNs.
While Maulana Jamil acknowledged the fatwa, he said he was not aware of the specific religious council responsible for issuing it, adding that he believed the stance on VPNs to be overly narrow.
His comments come amid growing debate over the use of VPNs in Pakistan, particularly after the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) began blocking unregistered VPNs across the country.
The fatwa by the Islamic Ideological Council comes after concerns that VPNs are being used to bypass internet censorship and access content deemed inappropriate, such as pornography and blasphemous material.
Following this, the Ministry of Interior directed the PTA to block illegal VPNs, citing their misuse by terrorists and individuals seeking to access restricted content.
This move follows a series of internet disruptions in Pakistan, particularly with regards to access to the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), which remains banned in the country. The government has also reportedly taken steps to slow down internet speeds amid growing use of VPNs to access the site.
