Asim Munir vs ISI: Pakistan army chief may take this big step after LeT co-founder Amir Hamza shot in Lahore, he could…
A senior Lashkar-e-Taiba co-founder, Amir Hamza, was attacked in Lahore on Thursday, raising fresh concerns over security conditions inside Pakistan. According to reports, unidentified gunmen opened fire on his vehicle while it was stuck in traffic on April 16, leaving him seriously injured. This is said to be the second such attack on him within a year.
Attack in Lahore raises security concerns
The incident took place in a high-security area of Lahore, where Hamza was targeted by unknown attackers. The sudden firing has once again highlighted gaps in security arrangements, especially in urban centres that are considered heavily guarded.
Reports suggest that the attack occurred during a period when Pakistan’s Army Chief Asim Munir was out of the country, although official confirmation of this timing has not been independently verified.
Pattern of targeted killings in recent years
Over the past few years, several individuals linked to terror organisations operating in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir have been killed in similar mysterious attacks. Many of these incidents involve unidentified gunmen, sparking debate over internal security and intelligence failures.
Observers note that this pattern has continued across multiple regions, with senior operatives of groups such as Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed among those targeted.
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Rising tension within Pakistan’s security establishment
The latest attack is also being viewed in the context of reported differences within Pakistan’s top security leadership. Media reports have previously suggested friction between Army Chief Asim Munir and senior intelligence officials over operational failures and security lapses.
Some reports claim that concerns over intelligence performance have contributed to internal disagreements within the system, although no official confirmation has been issued regarding leadership changes.
Previous high-profile killings linked to terror networks
Several high-profile figures linked to terror organisations have been killed in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir in recent years. These include:
In 2024, Lashkar commander Zia-ur-Rehman alias Abu Qatal, described as a key planner of the Reasi attack, was shot dead. The same year, Mohammad Tahir Anwar, brother of Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar, was found dead under unclear circumstances.
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In 2023, multiple incidents were reported, including the killing of Khalistan Commando Force chief Paramjit Singh Panjwar in Lahore and Hafiz Saeed associate Mufti Qaiser Farooq in Karachi. Shahid Latif, linked to the Pathankot attack, was also killed in Sialkot, while other operatives associated with Lashkar networks were similarly targeted.
Growing questions over internal security
The attack on Amir Hamza is being seen as part of a broader and continuing pattern of targeted killings inside Pakistan. The fact that such incidents are taking place even in major cities like Lahore has intensified scrutiny of the country’s internal security apparatus.
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Analysts say these repeated incidents suggest either serious intelligence lapses or shifting internal dynamics within Pakistan’s security landscape, with terror-linked individuals increasingly exposed to targeted attacks.