The Presbyterian clergyman survived an attack in September but was shot outside his home on December 5.
by A. Sahara Alexander
More than three weeks after the murder of Presbyterian Pastor Kamran Salamat in Gujranwala, police say they are still investigating but have made little progress in identifying the gunman. Authorities are reviewing CCTV footage from the scene, yet no suspects have been named.
Rev. Kamran Salamat, 45, was shot outside his home on December 5 by an assailant riding a motorcycle. He was preparing to take his 16-year-old daughter to college when the attacker opened fire, striking him in the lower abdomen, right wrist, and left ear. Witnesses believe two other men may have accompanied the shooter.
Salamat was rushed to a hospital but succumbed to his injuries three hours later, according to his brother-in-law, Rev. Shahzad Salman.
A father of three, Salamat had recently traveled to Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province to conduct outreach among Afghan and Pakistani Muslim tribespeople. Family members say he kept the details of his mission work private, even after surviving a previous attack.
In September, Salamat was shot in the leg by an unknown assailant. Seeking safety, he moved his family from Islamabad to Gujranwala, where he operated a sewing center for poor Christian women. Despite the earlier attack, he declined to pursue charges, telling police he had forgiven his assailant.
“We are absolutely clueless as to who was behind the attacks on Rev. Kamran,” Salman said. “The Gujranwala police are making efforts to trace the gunman from CCTV footage gathered from the spot, but so far he hasn’t been identified.”
On December 6, a congregation gathered to honor Salamat at his burial. Across social media, pastors and church leaders expressed grief and condemned the violence.
Rev. Reuben Qamar, moderator of the Presbyterian Church of Pakistan, wrote: “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 to the Christians in Pakistan.”
Pastor Naeem Nasir added, “Extremists had been pursuing him and threatening him everywhere he went. He moved from Islamabad to Gujranwala, but they were still not satisfied. They wanted to stop his passion for preaching the Gospel.”
The killing has underscored the vulnerability of Pakistan’s Christian minority, which has faced repeated threats and attacks. For Salamat’s family and congregation, the lack of progress in the investigation deepens the sense of insecurity.
Uses a pseudonym for security reasons.
