Pakistan raises bounty on Masood Azhar to Rs7 million

The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has increased the reward for information leading to the arrest of Jaish-e-Muhammad (JeM)

ISLAMABAD: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has increased the reward for information leading to the arrest of Jaish-e-Muhammad (JeM) founder Maulana Masood Azhar to Rs7 million, according to the agency’s newly issued Most Wanted Terrorists 2026 document.

Azhar has been listed as a fugitive in the FIA’s latest Red Book and described as “armed and extremely dangerous.”** The document has been issued by the FIA’s Counter Terrorism Wing and contains details relating to his identity, alleged affiliation, physical description and criminal cases registered against him.

According to the FIA document reviewed by Minute Mirror, Azhar is identified as Maulana Masood Azhar, son of Khuda Baksh, with his affiliation listed as Jaish-e-Muhammad. The document records an address in Kousar Colony B, Model Town, Bahawalpur, and carries reference ID 172CD22E00PRS105053

The FIA has announced a reward of up to **Rs7,000,000** for information that directly leads to his apprehension or conviction. The document identifies him as the head of Jaish-e-Muhammad and refers to a Home Department Punjab record dated December 31, 2021.

The physical description provided in the Red Book identifies Azhar as a tall male with a heavy build, wheatish complexion, blackish hair and a normal moustache.

The document also lists three criminal cases registered under the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997. These include FIR-17/20, registered on December 3, 2020, at CTD Gujranwala; FIR-8/20, registered on March 9, 2020, at CTD Multan; and FIR-4/21, registered on March 29, 2021, at CTD Lahore.

Members of the public have been directed to provide information to local police, Counter Terrorism Departments, Intelligence Bureau or FIA authorities through helpline 1991 or UAN 051-111-345-786.

A senior security official familiar with the matter said the revision of the Red Book and rewards was part of continued efforts to pursue individuals associated with proscribed organisations and strengthen Pakistan’s counter-terrorism measures.

The updated bounty comes ahead of the FATF plenary scheduled for October 2026, adding international scrutiny to Pakistan’s efforts against terrorism financing and money laundering. Pakistan was removed from the FATF grey list in October 2022 but continues to face international attention over the effectiveness of its counter-terrorism and financial enforcement mechanisms.

According to government sources, the revised reward represents an increase of Rs2 million from the amount previously publicised in 2021.

The FIA document also contains an address on record in Bahawalpur, while past statements have raised questions about Azhar’s whereabouts. A security official said addresses recorded in investigative documents are maintained for official purposes and that operational details are not publicly disclosed.

Security experts say that merely listing individuals and announcing rewards is only one part of counter-terrorism efforts. They emphasise that international observers are likely to focus on prosecution, convictions and action against the organisational infrastructure of proscribed groups.

The FIA document is marked “Restricted” and was issued under the authority of its Counter Terrorism Wing in Islamabad. Authorities are expected to provide further updates on measures against designated individuals and organisations as the October FATF plenary approaches.