Dawood Ahmed:
ISLAMABAD: Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) will remain operational beyond November 30 as the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) decided against banning them, citing insufficient legal grounds, according to reliable sources.
Earlier, the PTA had directed users to register their VPNs by November 30, warning that unregistered VPNs would face disconnection. The directive was initiated following a request from the Ministry of Interior, which argued that unregistered VPNs were being exploited for illicit activities, including terrorism and accessing inappropriate content.
However, sources within the interior ministry confirmed the withdrawal of this request. The decision followed a legal opinion from the Law Ministry, which concluded that the government lacks the authority to restrict VPNs under the existing framework of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016.
An official explained that Section 34 of PECA, which addresses “unlawful online content,” permits authorities to block content harmful to national security, morality, or public order. However, it does not specifically empower the government to ban VPNs, and any such attempt would likely face legal challenges.
This clarification has led to the interior ministry reconsidering its stance, ensuring uninterrupted VPN services for users across Pakistan.
