Muhammad Sarwar death in Lahore reported by Pakistan Markazi Muslim League officials

Muhammad Sarwar, named a global terrorist by the US Treasury Department, died in Pakistan’s Lahore on Sunday. Sarwar served as Punjab President of Pakistan Markazi Muslim League (PMML). A party spokesperson said Sarwar collapsed while walking from home to a mosque for prayers. PMML did not state the confirmed cause of death.

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Local media offered more detail, but PMML did not verify it. 24NewsHD TV Channel reported that Sarwar died due to a head injury after a fall on stairs. Party leaders later shared condolences for Sarwar. The party also scheduled Sarwar’s funeral for late Sunday night.

US Treasury Department designation of Muhammad Sarwar

In 2016, the US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) listed Sarwar and Shahid Mahmood as Specially Designated Global Terrorists (SDGTs). OFAC said the step targeted Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) funding lines and support links. OFAC also said their US-linked property and interests were blocked under its action.

OFAC said Sarwar and Mahmood worked for, or on behalf of, Lashkar-e-Taiba. "Sarwar and Mahmood of Lashkar-e-Taiba are responsible for raising and moving funds to support the terrorist groups operations. The action not only aims to expose activities, but also disrupts Lashkar-e-Taibas financial network and ability to carry out violent terrorist attacks,\" OFAC said at the time.

Lashkar-e-Taiba links and OFAC details on Muhammad Sarwar

OFAC said Sarwar had been a senior LeT official in Lahore for over 10 years. OFAC added that Sarwar held several leadership roles inside the group. OFAC said Sarwar served as LeT’s Lahore chief since at least January 2015. As Lahore chief, Sarwar kept links with senior LeT leaders, OFAC said.

OFAC traced Sarwar’s association with LeT to the early 2000s. OFAC said Sarwar, as Lahore emir, took part in fundraising. OFAC also said Sarwar used Pakistan’s formal financial system to raise and move funds. OFAC added that Sarwar led businessman delegations to LeT facilities in 2008 to seek donations.

OFAC said that by mid-2009 Sarwar was one of two officials leading LeT’s finance wing in Lahore. Between 2012 and 2013, OFAC said Sarwar worked with LeT foreign affairs chief Hafiz Abdul Rahman Makki. OFAC said Makki asked Sarwar for money for travel inside Pakistan in early 2013.

OFAC noted that Makki was designated under Executive Order 13224 in November 2010. OFAC said Sarwar’s fundraising work supported LeT’s broader operations. The US action in 2016 aimed to weaken these support systems. It also sought to disrupt networks linked to financing and logistical assistance.

PMML and Jamaat-ud-Dawa background after Muhammad Sarwar death

PMML is described as a political offshoot of Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD), founded by Mumbai attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed. Officials said Saeed has been in Lahore’s Kot Lakhpat Jail since 2019. Saeed faced multiple terror financing cases. Officials also said Saeed was convicted for multiple years in those cases.

PMML leaders Khalid Masood Sindhu, Saifullah Qasuri, Hafiz Talha Saeed, Yaqub Sheikh, Khalid Naik Gujjar, and Muzammil Iqbal Hashmi expressed grief. \"With the death of Muhammad Sarwar, the party has lost a strong and fearless leader,\" said Muzammil Iqbal Hashmi. Sarwar’s funeral was scheduled at JuD headquarters, Jamia Al-Qadsia, in Lahore’s Chuburji area.

With inputs from PTI