Amir Hamza, Lashkar-e-Taiba Co-Founder, Injured in Shooting Incident in Lahore

Amir Hamza, a founding member and senior ideologue of the banned terrorist group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), was critically injured in an incident at his residence in Lahore on May 20, 2025. Reports indicate he sustained serious wounds and was rushed to a military hospital in the city, where he is receiving treatment under heavy security provided by Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). While some unconfirmed accounts and social media posts described the incident as a shooting by unknown gunmen, multiple sources have characterised it as a mysterious accident at home, with no official confirmation of an assassination attempt.

Hamza, born on May 10, 1959, is regarded as one of the 17 original founders of LeT and a close aide to the group’s chief, Hafiz Saeed. He has long served as the editor of LeT’s publications and played a key role in the organisation’s propaganda and outreach efforts. A veteran of the Afghan mujahideen during the 1980s, Hamza has been designated a global terrorist by the United States Treasury Department since 2012. He is also linked to LeT’s involvement in various attacks, including the 2005 Indian Institute of Science assault in Bengaluru.

The incident comes just days after the killing of another senior LeT operative, Razaullah Nizamani Khalid alias Abu Saifullah, who was shot dead by unidentified gunmen in Sindh province on May 18, 2025. The back-to-back developments involving high-ranking LeT figures have sparked speculation and concern within pro-LeT circles, with some Telegram channels urging supporters to remain resilient while describing Hamza’s case as an accident. Pakistani authorities have maintained tight secrecy around the matter.

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LeT, based primarily in Pakistan and designated as a terrorist organisation by India, the United States, and several other countries, has been accused of orchestrating multiple high-profile attacks in India, most notably the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks. Despite being banned, the group continues to operate through front organisations such as Jamaat-ud-Dawa. Hamza’s role as a propagandist and ideologue has made him a central figure in sustaining the group’s narrative over the decades.

As of the latest reports from May 2025, Hamza remains hospitalised in critical condition. No arrests have been reported in connection with the incident, and Pakistani officials have not issued a detailed public statement. The episode has drawn attention amid ongoing concerns over militant activities and internal security dynamics in Pakistan.

This development adds to the pattern of targeted or mysterious attacks on individuals associated with banned outfits in Pakistan, raising questions about factional rivalries, internal purges, or external operations. Investigations are reportedly underway, though details remain limited due to the heavy security blanket around the case.

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