Amir Hamza Shot in Lahore, LeT Co-Founder Critical

Amir Hamza, shot in Lahore, is the latest development involving the founding member of Lashkar-e-Taiba, after unidentified gunmen opened fire on his vehicle in the city on April 16.

Hamza was critically wounded in the attack and taken to the hospital, where his condition remains serious. The shooting took place near a news channel office in Lahore, with reports saying two armed men on a motorcycle carried out the attack before fleeing the scene. Authorities have launched a search operation, but no group has claimed responsibility so far.

The attack happened near Hamdard Chowk, also described in some reports as close to Pindi Stop, while Hamza was either outside or returning from a news channel office. He was reportedly accompanied by Pakistani judge Nazir Ahmad Ghazi at the time. Initial reports varied on the extent of the injuries, but multiple media and medical accounts described Hamza as being in extremely critical condition after sustaining severe wounds.

This was reportedly the second assassination attempt on Hamza in less than a year. He survived an earlier shooting in May 2025, when he was wounded but lived through the attack.

That detail has added to speculation over whether the latest shooting was part of a broader pattern rather than an isolated incident. However, the investigation remains ongoing, and no official motive has been confirmed.

Who Is Amir Hamza

Amir Hamza, a founding member and senior ideologue of Lashkar-e-Taiba, which the U.S. Treasury has designated as a terrorist organisation. He is said to have played roles in fundraising, recruitment, propaganda and negotiations linked to detained militants.

He was once editor of the group’s official publication and authored several books. In 2018, after crackdowns on LeT-linked charities, he reportedly moved closer to a splinter group, Jaish-e-Manqafa, while maintaining ties with LeT leadership.

Police are searching for the attackers; no group has claimed responsibility. Some reports point to possible internal rifts within Lashkar-e-Taiba factions, while others point to wider speculation around targeted attacks on high-profile militants. At this stage, those theories remain unconfirmed. What is clear is that the incident has triggered heightened security and fresh attention on militant networks operating inside Pakistan.

The hospital treating Hamza is under heavy security as doctors work to stabilise him. Officials have not publicly released a detailed statement on the motive or identified the gunmen. With the victim’s status still critical and the attackers still at large, the case remains fluid. Further clarity is likely to depend on the outcome of the police investigation and any official statements that follow.