Pastor Kamran Salamat Murdered in Pakistan After Previous Attack: A Heartbreaking Reminder of Rising Christian Persecution

Today, early morning on 5 December 2025, tragedy struck the Christian community once again.

Around 8:00 AM, Pastor Kamran Salamat was on his way to drop his daughter to school in Gujranwala. When he stopped his car and stepped out to open the boot, the attacker approached him from behind and opened fire.

According to witnesses, three bullets hit Pastor Kamran—one in his hand, one in his abdomen, and one in his head. The final shot killed him instantly.

In one of the most heartbreaking details of this tragedy, his daughter was present and witnessed everything. Despite her young age, she bravely tried to stop the killer using her father’s walking stick—the same stick he used because he had previously been shot in his leg during an attack in Islamabad months earlier.

She cried, begged, and tried to protect her father, but the assassin did not stop.

This brutal act has shaken Pakistan’s Christian community to its core.

A Beloved Pastor Targeted Again

Pastor Kamran Salamat was already a known target. Earlier this year, he survived a deadly assassination attempt in Islamabad, where he was shot in the leg. Despite his injuries, he continued serving faithfully, walking with a stick but never abandoning his ministry.

Today, the attackers finally carried out what they began months ago.

His martyrdom has left:

• A devastated young daughter

• A grieving wife and family

• A traumatized congregation

• A fearful Christian community

His faithful service and unwavering courage will always be remembered.

Rising Fear and Church Security Concerns Ahead of Christmas

This murder comes at a time when threats against Christians are already increasing as Christmas approaches.

Earlier today in Lahore, multiple pastors were summoned to the police station and told to arrange their own security. The instructions included:

• Hiring their own security guards in uniform

• Providing licensed weapons

• Installing security cameras

• Organizing internal security teams

Police promised to send one or two officers on Sundays, but the responsibility for full security was placed on the churches themselves.

For many small congregations, these demands are nearly impossible to meet.

Nevertheless, Pakistani believers continue to hold to their faith, declaring:

“Nothing can separate us from the love of God.”

A Decade of Misery: Pakistani Christian Refugees in Malaysia, Thailand & Sri Lanka

Pastor Kamran’s murder also highlights a deeper and long-standing crisis.

For many years, thousands of Pakistani Christians have fled the country—not because of this incident, but because of their own painful experiences of persecution, discrimination, threats, and daily hardship.

Hoping for safety and UNHCR support, many traveled to:

• Malaysia

• Thailand

• Sri Lanka

But instead of safety, they have faced more than a decade of unimaginable suffering, including:

• Cramped, unsafe refugee camps

• Separation from family for years

• Extreme poverty and lack of medical care

• Children growing up without school

• Arrests, detentions, and imprisonment

• Torture, abuse, and exploitation

• Constant fear of deportation

They fled persecution in Pakistan only to fall into another cycle of misery—forgotten by the world, struggling for survival, and crying out for justice.

Yet even in their suffering, they continue to pray, worship, and cling to Christ as their only hope.

A Decade of Misery: Pakistani Christian Refugees in Malaysia, Thailand & Sri Lanka

The tragedy of Pastor Kamran’s murder also draws attention to a much wider and long-standing crisis faced by Pakistani Christians. For years, thousands of believers have fled Pakistan — not because of this recent incident, but because of their own painful experiences of persecution, discrimination, and daily hardships due to their Christian faith. Seeking safety, many traveled to Malaysia, Thailand, and Sri Lanka, hoping for UNHCR protection and the possibility of resettlement. Instead, they have endured more than a decade of suffering, including:

• Living in cramped and unsafe refugee camps

• Long-term separation from family members

• Extreme poverty and lack of medical treatment

• Children growing up without proper schooling

• Frequent arrests, detentions, and imprisonment

• Abuse, torture, and exploitation

• Constant fear of deportation

These families escaped persecution in Pakistan only to encounter another form of misery abroad — trapped in an unending cycle of waiting, fear, and hopelessness.

Despite being largely forgotten by the international community, they continue to pray, worship, and hold firmly to their faith in Christ, believing that God is their only source of strength and hope.

We Strongly Condemn the Murder of Pastor Kamran Salamat

We condemn this brutal, senseless killing and stand with all Pakistani Christians who face persecution, threats, and discrimination every day. The Church in Pakistan needs global prayer, support, and advocacy now more than ever.

Please Pray For:

• Pastor Kamran Salamat’s family

• His congregation and friends

• Christians across Pakistan

• Churches preparing for Christmas under fear and pressure

• Christian refugees suffering abroad

May God strengthen His people and bring justice, peace, and protection to the Church in Pakistan.

Rev. Dr. Naeem Nasir

President | Good Samaritan Ministries Pakistan

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrNaeemNasir