Dhurandar in Pakistan? LeT co-founder, IISc Bengaluru blast accused Hamza shot at in Lahore by two men riding a bike

Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) co-founder was shot at in Lahore on Thursday, in what is being seen as the second attempt on his life in less than a year. Amir Hamza, accused in the 2005 Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bengaluru attack, was shot at by unidentified assailants while leaving a television station. The attack took place when Hamza, 67, was heading home after visiting a local TV channel. He was accompanied by Pakistani judge Nazir Ahmad Ghazi at the time.

Two armed men riding a motorcycle opened fire near a Pindi stop in Lahore and fled the scene. Hamza was immediately shifted to a hospital. Officials have not confirmed his condition, and no group has claimed responsibility so far.

Second attempt in a year

This is the second such attack targeting Hamza. In May last year, he survived after being shot in the waist by unknown attackers.


Sources familiar with developments around Lashkar-e-Taiba indicated that internal rifts within the organisation could be behind the repeated attempts on his life.

A long trail of allegations

Hamza, who hails from Gujranwala in Pakistan’s Punjab province, has been a key ideologue within Lashkar-e-Taiba. The US designated him a global terrorist in August 2012. He has been closely associated with Hafiz Saeed and Abdul Rehman Makki, both central figures in the outfit’s leadership.

In the early 2000s, Hamza was tasked with helping build operational bases in India. He is also among those accused in the 2005 attack on the Indian Institute of Science in Bengaluru.

Role in propaganda and outreach

"He also headed the publication division of Lashkar and write books like 'Qafila Da'wat aur Shahadat (Caravan of Proselytizing and Martydom', Shahrah-e-Bahisht (Road to paradise)," said a source.

Beyond field operations, Hamza handled the group’s messaging and publications. According to the US Treasury, he maintained links with other groups under Saeed’s direction and played a key role in shaping Lashkar’s outreach.

"Hamza has led an LeT-associated charity and was also an officer and member of a Lashkar's university trust that was led by Saeed. Hamza's responsibilities as of mid-2010 also included publishing propaganda on behalf of Lashkar. Hamza has served as editor of an LeT weekly newspaper and was also contributing articles to the LET publication," says the website.

"Hamza was also one of three LeT terrorists designated to negotiate the release of detained Lashkar members and also served as the head of LET's "special campaigns" department," it adds.

Offbeat fault lines resurface

In 2018, Saeed reportedly asked Hamza to form a new outfit, Jaish-e-Manqafa, after bans were imposed on Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jamaat-ud-Dawah. The move had briefly triggered speculation about divisions within the group’s top ranks, though those claims were later dismissed.

The latest shooting has once again put the spotlight on possible internal tensions, with questions rising over whether the threat to Hamza is coming from rival factions within or from external adversaries.