Pakistani Presbyterian Pastor Killed After Surviving Earlier Attack, Highlighting Growing Threats to Christians
December 08, 2025
The targeted killing of Pastor Kamran Salamat highlights the grave dangers faced by Christians in Pakistan for peacefully proclaiming their faith. Human rights groups condemn the attack as a violation of freedom of religion and speech, urging urgent justice and protection for religious minorities.
A Presbyterian pastor in Pakistan who survived a targeted shooting earlier this year was gunned down last week outside his home in Gujranwala, Punjab, in front of his teenage daughter, underscoring the increasing dangers faced by Christian leaders in the country.
The Rev. Kamran Salamat, 45, was preparing to take his 16-year-old daughter to college on Friday, December 5, 2025, when an unidentified gunman riding a motorcycle approached from behind and opened fire at close range. According to his brother-in-law, the Rev. Shahzad Salman, the bullets struck Pastor Salamat in his right wrist, left ear, and lower abdomen. He was rushed to Civil Hospital Gujranwala but died roughly three hours later from his injuries.
The attacker fled the scene, and despite police efforts to trace him using CCTV footage, no arrest had been made at the time of reporting. Family members believe the gunman may not have acted alone and suspect additional accomplices were nearby.
Pastor Salamat had previously survived an assassination attempt in September while in Islamabad, when he was shot in the leg. Following that attack, he declined to pursue legal action, telling police that he had forgiven his assailant. According to relatives, he also refrained from disclosing details about the threats he faced or the nature of his ministry, even to his own family.
After the September shooting, Pastor Salamat relocated his family to Gujranwala in hopes of finding safety. There, he continued his ministry and launched a sewing center aimed at helping impoverished Christian women gain skills and income. Despite these efforts to live quietly, threats against him reportedly persisted.
Church leaders and associates believe Pastor Salamat may have been targeted because of his missionary activities. Sources said he had conducted evangelical outreach in volatile tribal regions of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, where he preached to Afghan and Pakistani Muslim tribesmen work that is considered extremely dangerous and frequently draws the attention of extremist groups.
His killing has drawn condemnation from Christian leaders and human rights organizations. The Christian Persecution Relief Pakistan (CPRP) issued a strong statement condemning the murder, saying Pastor Salamat was targeted for exercising his fundamental rights.
“Freedom of speech and the right to peacefully proclaim one’s religion are guaranteed under international human rights law,” CPRP stated. “In Pakistan, however, the open expression of Christian faith and evangelism continues to place believers at serious risk. Pastor Kamran Salamat appears to have been targeted precisely for proclaiming his faith, which ultimately led to this heinous act.”
CPRP further condemned the attack and called on Pakistani authorities to uphold constitutional protections for religious minorities. “We strongly condemn this brutal killing and urge the government of Pakistan to ensure justice, accountability, and meaningful protection for religious leaders and minority communities,” the statement added.
Pastor Salamat was widely respected within Pakistan’s Christian community. He previously served as chairman of the Pastors’ Alliance Islamabad, overseeing a network of nearly 200 pastors, and was known for his commitment to evangelism, pastoral care, and unity among persecuted churches.
His funeral was held on Saturday, December 6, 2025, at St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church in Gujranwala, where a large gathering of Christians from multiple denominations paid tribute to his life and ministry. He is survived by his wife and three minor children, who remain under fear following reports of continued threats.
The killing is part of a broader pattern of violence against Christians in Pakistan. Just three months earlier, a Catholic man was killed and another injured when gunmen attacked a van carrying pilgrims to the Marian shrine in Mariamabad, Punjab. Human rights advocates say such incidents reflect growing religious intolerance and impunity for extremist violence.
Pakistan, where more than 96 percent of the population is Muslim, ranks among the world’s most dangerous countries for Christians. According to Open Doors’ 2025 World Watch List, Pakistan is the eighth most difficult place to live as a Christian, a reality underscored by the killing of Pastor Kamran Salamat.
