A Christian pastor who had survived an extremist attack just two months ago was shot dead in Gujranwala on 5 December, despite having relocated there for safety with his family.
Pastor Kamran Salamat, 45, was killed by an unidentified gunman outside his residence in Islam Colony, Sialkot Road, around 9 am as he prepared to drive his daughter Numeer to college. The assailant, riding a motorcycle, approached and opened fire at close range, striking the pastor in his right wrist, left ear and lower abdomen.
In a moment of extraordinary courage, 16-year-old Numeer struck the attacker with her father’s crutch, forcing him to flee. The 1122 Rescue Team rushed Pastor Kamran to Civil Hospital Gujranwala, where doctors worked to save him. However, he succumbed to his injuries around noon.
Pastor Shahzad Salman, the victim’s brother-in-law, told the British Asian Christian Association (BACA) that police reached the scene promptly and collected evidence, including CCTV footage. Numeer identified the attacker, described as having a long beard. Authorities filed a First Information Report under Section 324 of the Pakistan Penal Code.
Pastor Kamran previously served as a minister at the Church of Pentecostal in Islamabad and was Chairman of the Pastor’s Alliance Islamabad, supervising approximately 200 pastors. He was known as a committed social activist who advocated for Christian rights in the capital.
Two months earlier, religious extremists had shot Pastor Kamran in Islamabad. The bullet struck his right leg, and he received treatment at GHQ and Holy Family Hospital in Rawalpindi. Following his recovery, Pastor Shahzad urged him to move to Gujranwala for safety.
Despite relocating, Pastor Kamran continued his ministry. “He would travel to Islamabad every Saturday for Sunday service at the Church of Pentecostal,” Pastor Shehzad Suleman told BACA. “He was very brave and always said he did not care for his life while serving God, and today he has proved it.”
Pastor Kamran is survived by his wife Salmina Kamran and three children: daughters Numeer, 16, and Arina, 11, and son Ariel, 14. His funeral took place on 6 December at Saint Paul Presbyterian Church, Sialkot Road, Gujranwala, where a large gathering honoured his life and service.
According to reports on social media, the pastor’s family received further threats after his death. Nawa-e-Masih Chairman Shakeel Anjum Sawan expressed regret over the killing during the Christmas season and demanded the Punjab government provide Christians with security and immediately arrest the perpetrators.
Reuben Qamar, Moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Pakistan, said in a statement on social media: “We mourn the heinous killing of Pastor Kamran Salamat, a faithful servant of God. His death is not only a personal loss, but another wound inflicted upon Christians in Pakistan. We demand an immediate investigation, justice and protection for minorities across the country. Even in our grief, we remain steadfast in hope, rejoicing in Jesus’s victory over darkness, and sharing peace and love with this hostile world.”
The attack has triggered fresh fear among Christian communities across Pakistan. BACA has appealed for support to help the bereaved family with immediate living expenses and to fund legal assistance for a proper investigation. The organisation reported that local authorities have shown reluctance to act.
Juliet Chowdhry, BACA Trustee, said: “Pastor Kamran’s murder is part of a disturbing pattern of extrajudicial killings targeting Christians in Pakistan. We remember the assassination of Federal Minister Shahbaz Bhatti for defending minorities, the two brothers shot outside a court after being acquitted in a blasphemy trial, and countless others who have been silenced simply for their faith. We cannot allow impunity to prevail.”
BACA has visited the family and has provided financial support as well as covered funeral expenses. The organisation is seeking to raise funds to secure legal representation and ensure a transparent investigation into the murder.
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