ISLAMABAD: As the federal government prepares to crack down on unregistered Virtual Private Networks (VPNs), Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) Chairman Dr. Raghib Hussain Naeemi clarified on Wednesday that a “clerical error” in a previous statement led to confusion about VPNs being deemed un-Islamic.

“No one has declared VPNs against Shariah or un-Islamic,” Naeemi stated at a press conference in Islamabad.

He explained that a typing mistake in the earlier statement omitted the word “not,” causing the misunderstanding. This clarification follows criticism of the council’s November 15 fatwa, which mistakenly labeled the use of VPNs as “un-Islamic.”

Naeemi elaborated that the council’s recent session focused on the use of social media in light of Islamic principles. While acknowledging social media platforms as effective tools for public expression, he emphasized that their misuse for blasphemy, promoting religious hatred, extremism, or terrorism would render them un-Islamic.

Earlier talking to private TV channel, Naeemi clarified that the Islamic or un-Islamic nature of VPNs depends on how they are used. He stated, “Whether registered or unregistered, a VPN is un-Islamic if used for indecent content or false propaganda.”

Meanwhile, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has extended the grace period for registering VPNs until November 30. The move comes amid concerns over unauthorized VPNs being used to bypass internet restrictions and access prohibited content. Starting December 1, a nationwide crackdown on unregistered VPNs will commence.

According to sources, the PTA has already conducted a successful trial of VPN blocking and is planning a second trial to ensure full readiness for the enforcement.