Punjab Roadside Boxes Yield Millions in Terror Funding

Lahore, Punjab - A Shocking Discovery

A recent discovery on a major road artery in Punjab has revealed that roadside boxes have been yielding millions of rupees for terrorist organizations. Initially thought to be collecting sacrificial hides during Eid-ul-Adha, these boxes were exploited by private individuals and humanitarian organizations without proper scrutiny.

Jamaat-ud-Dawa’s Funding Sources

According to sources, Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD), a proscribed front organization of Lashkar-e-Taiba, used to collect sacrificial hides to finance its militant activities. This is not an isolated incident, as terrorist groups in Pakistan have been using various methods to generate funds, including:

• Crimes and illegal activities
• Legitimate businesses such as:
  • Trading companies
  • Schools
  • Hospitals run for profit

These ventures provide a steady flow of money and are less likely to be monitored by the government’s checks and balances.

External Funding Sources

External actors, including state and non-state entities, have also been providing funds to terrorist groups in Pakistan. These include:

• The Islamic Revolution in Iran, which gave impetus to revivalist tendencies among marginalized groups, particularly Shia Muslims
• Saudi funding of Ahl-e-Hadith and Deobandi madrassas in Pakistan, which continued even after the Soviet withdrawal from Afghanistan in 1989
• India’s involvement in providing financial support to Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan under the guise of legal transactions with multinational firms in Pakistan

Informal Monetary Transactions

In addition to these formal funding sources, informal monetary transactions through Hawala/Hundi have also been used to fund terrorist organizations such as TTP.

Conclusion

The discovery of these roadside boxes highlights the complexity of terrorism financing in Pakistan and underscores the need for effective measures to prevent and detect such activities. It is crucial that government agencies and humanitarian organizations take immediate action to prevent exploitation and ensure that funds are not being diverted to terrorist groups.