Co-founder of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT)—a Pakistan-based terrorist organisation—and chairman of Tehreek Hurmat-e-Rasool, Amir Hamza, was shot at in Lahore on Thursday. However, Hamza survived the assassination attempt, carried out by ‘unknown gunmen’.
Hamza sustained a gunshot wound to his arm, but is reported to be in a stable condition. Hamza is responsible for carrying out multiple terrorist attacks in India. He is close to senior Lashkar leadership, especially Hafiz Muhammad Saeed.
The assassination attempt took place when Hamza was returning home in the vehicle of the private TV channel 24NewsHD TV, owned by Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi. The channel's religious programme host Justice (retd. Nazir Ahmed Ghazi and Hamza were in the vehicle. According to media reports, the gunmen opened fire at close range, shattering the windows of Hamza’s vehicle and causing significant damage.
"Two unidentified armed men riding a motorcycle opened fire on the white car in which Ghazi and Hamza were travelling at Peco Road in Lahore near the TV channel's office. In the attack, Hamza suffered bullet injuries while Ghazi remained unhurt," the police said.
Hamza has been shifted to a hospital, where he is being treated, they said.
Police said they have launched a probe into the incident with the help of CCTV footage to trace the attackers.
Hamza is designated as a terrorist by the US. In the past, he served as the head of LeT's "special campaigns" department.
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