Report Alleges Terror Groups in Pakistan Raise Funds Through Charities and Digital Wallets

Pakistan continues to face renewed scrutiny over allegations of terror financing under the leadership of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Army Chief General Asim Munir, following a report detailing how extremist organisations operating in the country are allegedly raising funds under the guise of charity and religious donations.

According to an investigative report published by the US-based outlet PJ Media, Islamist militant groups in Pakistan have adopted evolving fundraising strategies to evade global monitoring mechanisms and avoid appearing as conventional street-level collectors. These methods reportedly include exploiting humanitarian causes, religious institutions, relief operations and international conflict-related crises to solicit donations from sympathisers worldwide, including in the United States.

New Terror Funding Strategies Highlighted

Writing for PJ Media, Turkish journalist Uzay Bulut noted that Pakistan has a long and controversial history with terror financing and money laundering. He argued that despite repeated assurances to the international community, the country has failed to establish strong and sustained institutional mechanisms to effectively curb illicit financial flows linked to extremist groups.

The report claims that banned organisations have increasingly shifted to informal and digital channels, enabling them to operate below the radar of international financial watchdogs.

Allegations Involving Jaish-e-Mohammed

The investigation alleges that the proscribed terrorist organisation Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) is currently raising funds in the name of humanitarian assistance for Gaza. According to the report, JeM chief Masood Azhar has placed his son, Hammad Azhar, at the forefront of the campaign. Bulut described this tactic as turning him into a “modern beggar” to elicit sympathy and donations.

Hammad Azhar is alleged to be leading the fundraising effort through video appeals and social media outreach, including content purportedly featuring women from Gaza praising his claimed charitable initiatives. The report states that he operates online under the alias “Qaiser Ahmed” and encourages donors to transfer funds to a digital wallet account registered under the name “Khalid Ahmed.” Donations are reportedly being received from within Pakistan as well as from Gulf countries.

In addition, the report alleges that Jaish-e-Mohammed has launched extensive fundraising campaigns in the name of mosque construction, claiming plans to build more than 300 mosques across Pakistan.

Shift to Digital Wallets and Online Campaigns

Citing regional media sources, the report further claims that JeM has sought to raise nearly 3.91 billion Pakistani rupees through online campaigns to construct 313 new “markaz” (central facilities), relying heavily on digital wallets rather than conventional banking channels.

A similar shift has reportedly been adopted by another banned group, Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), which is said to be using digital payment platforms to collect funds directly. According to the report, this strategy is intended to minimise detection by international monitoring bodies such as the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).

Ideological Objectives

The report concludes by asserting that the ideology driving these organisations is centred on the establishment of a global Islamic caliphate. It claims their long-term objective is to expand influence beyond national borders and impose Sharia law internationally.

The allegations add to ongoing concerns raised by international observers over Pakistan’s efforts to curb terror financing and prevent extremist groups from exploiting charitable and humanitarian frameworks for illicit purposes.