VPN services are a thorn in the side of Pakistan’s government. They are now to be banned for individuals. There is support from a high Islamic body.
Pakistan wants to ban private individuals from using VPN services. From December, only those that are used by companies will be allowed to function.
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Another government wanting to ban anonymity.
So what is it that they want to hide from their people?
“About 97% of Pakistanis are Muslims.”[1] And,
"Islam is the largest and the state religion of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. Pakistan has over 231.6 Million adherents of Islam (excluding the administrative territory of Azad Kashmir and Gilgit Baltistan. As much as 90% of the population follows Sunni Islam and around 97% of Pakistanis follow Islam. Most Pakistani Sunni Muslims belong to the Hanafi school of jurisprudence, which is represented by the Barelvi and Deobandi traditions.
Also,
" Pakistan tests secret China-like ‘firewall’ to tighten online surveillance
The new monitoring system could give the government unprecedented insights into citizens’ online use. It could also slow down the internet."[2]
One could speculate the government of Pakistan perceives the Internet enables access to information it considers “haram” (forbidden) & technical restrictions could also aid in limiting the discourse between Pakistani Internet users & Infidels (non-believers).
The Pakistan government’s new Internet monitoring system could also “protect” the society from any form of social uprising in which the Internet is facilitated to achieve momentum, in the context of opposition to the religious & political status quo, observed more recently in countries like Iran.
Fortunately Tor will no doubt be available to provide a way out, beyond the freshly constructed “prison walls.”
[1] Islam in Pakistan - Wikipedia
[2] Pakistan tests secret China-like ‘firewall’ to tighten online surveillance | Censorship News | Al Jazeera