Pakistani Cleric Issues Fatwa Declaring Cryptocurrency Trading Haram Amid Regulatory Push
Mufti Muhammad Taqi Usmani, a prominent Pakistani Islamic scholar, has issued a fatwa declaring cryptocurrency trading haram under Islamic law, stating that digital assets like Bitcoin, Ethereum, and stablecoins do not qualify as wealth or property in Shariah. This religious ruling, endorsed by other scholars and published by Darul Uloom Karachi, is non-binding but may influence public perception. The fatwa emerges as Pakistan's government actively promotes cryptocurrency regulation through the Pakistan Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority and a formal regulatory framework.
First-hand measurement across 2 sources
We measured how 2 outlets covered this story. Coverage leans balanced overall (Left 0%, Centre 100%, Right 0%). Overall sentiment is neutral (50/100). Lens Score 34/100 — low public interest.
Outlets analysed (first-hand measurement by TBN's Bias Engine):
- indiatoday— balanced framing, neutral sentiment
- news18— balanced framing, neutral sentiment
AI Analysis
The articles present perspectives from religious authorities and the Pakistani government without favoring either side. They highlight the cleric's religious ruling alongside the government's efforts to regulate and promote cryptocurrencies, reflecting both religious and policy viewpoints. The coverage maintains neutrality by reporting facts and statements from both stakeholders without editorializing.
The tone across the articles is neutral and informative, focusing on the factual announcement of the fatwa and the government's regulatory initiatives. There is no evident positive or negative sentiment toward either the religious ruling or the government's actions, resulting in balanced coverage that neither endorses nor criticizes the developments.
How 2 sources covered this story
Each source's own headline, political lean, and sentiment — so you can see framing differences at a glance.