Pakistan police register case against unidentified gunmen for shooting Lashkar-e-Taiba co-founder

Police in Lahore, Pakistan’s Punjab province, on Friday registered a case against unknown gunmen for firing on Lashkar-e-Taiba co-founder Aamir Hamza, who was injured in an attack in Lahore.

Two unidentified gunmen on a bicycle opened fire on a vehicle of 24NewsHD TV, a private television channel owned by Home Minister Mohsin Naqvi, near the TV channel’s office on Peko Road in Lahore on Thursday.

Hamza suffered a gunshot wound during the attack.

“An FIR was registered against the unidentified gunmen but it was sealed immediately,” a senior police officer told PTI.

He said the intelligence agency had taken over the case from the police and was currently investigating the matter.

The channel’s religious program presenter, Judge Nazir Ahmed Ghazi, and Hamza were in the car when the attack took place. Hamza was transferred to hospital for treatment.

Punjab Police said on Friday, “After receiving information about the incident, SSP Operation Team immediately reached the spot and imposed high alert in the area. SSP Operation Team Tauqeer Naeem also met the affected persons. Thankfully, all persons inside the vehicle remained safe during the shooting.”

The report also said that senior police officers from the town and Zhongzhen were at the scene as well as a large police force.

“Police have collected evidence from the scene and launched an investigation. CCTV footage and geo-fencing technology are being used to arrest the suspects. Search operations are being conducted at various locations and suspect persons are being vetted,” police said.

The statement added that those involved would be traced and arrested soon.

Police sources said Hamza was shifted to his residence in Lahore’s Jowhar Town, where police and agency personnel met him.

The leadership of the Pakistan Markazi Muslim League, the political front of Mumbai attack mastermind Hafiz Saeed’s banned “dwah movement”, including Hafiz Saeed’s son Hafiz Talha Saeed, also appealed to him.

They said retired judge Ghazi, a television host who remains Hafez Saeed’s legal adviser, was not injured in the attack.

PMML strongly condemned the attack on Hamza and demanded the immediate arrest of those involved.

Hamza is considered the second most important leader of Lashkar-e-Taiba, after leader Hafiz Saeed. Saeed has been imprisoned in Lahore’s Kot Lakhpat jail since 2019, having been convicted in a terror financing case for several years.

Hamza has been designated a terrorist by the United States. In the past, he served as head of LeT’s “Special Operations” unit.

In 2018, Hamza formed a fundraising group for LeT after the Pakistani government banned the JuD and Falah-e-Insaniat Foundation.

This article was generated from automated news agency feeds without modifications to the text.