In a major blow to the leadership of the proscribed terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), its co-founder and high-ranking commander Amir Hamza was shot dead by unidentified gunmen in Lahore on the evening of April 15, 2026. According to local reports and eyewitness accounts, the incident occurred directly outside the office of a prominent news channel in the city’s busy media district. Hamza, who was traveling in a secure vehicle, was ambushed by two motorcycle-borne assailants who opened fire indiscriminately before fleeing the scene. He was rushed to a nearby hospital where he was declared dead on arrival due to multiple gunshot wounds to the chest and head.
Amir Hamza was a pivotal figure in the founding of LeT alongside Hafiz Saeed and served as a key ideologue and recruiter for the group for decades. He was also a designated global terrorist, wanted for his involvement in planning several high-profile attacks across South Asia. This assassination follows a pattern of mysterious killings targeting high-value anti-India assets and terror operatives on Pakistani soil over the last two years. While no group has officially claimed responsibility, the daring nature of the attack in a high-security zone has sent shockwaves through the local security establishment. Punjab Police have cordoned off the area and are currently reviewing CCTV footage to identify the shooters, though no arrests have been made as of Thursday morning.
