A Pakistani pastor was shot and fatally injured by an unidentified gunman near his home in Gujranwala, Punjab, on 5 December – less than three months after surviving an earlier attempt on his life.
Pastor Kamran Naz, 45, was attacked outside his residence in Khokharki, a predominantly Christian neighbourhood. He was leaving home to accompany his daughter to school around 8am when a man approached him, fired three shots into his back, and fled.
The pastor was taken to hospital but died three hours later.
Pastor Kamran Naz had resumed ministering to his church just a few weeks after being injured in an earlier attack [Image credit: HARDS]
His funeral took place the following day, 6 December. Pastor Kamran leaves a widow and three children.
Pastor Kamran had previously informed the police of numerous death threats he had received. He was warned to stop ministering at his church in Islamabad, Pakistan’s capital, or face the consequences. His persecutors claimed, among other accusations, that he was “proselytising among Afghan refugees”.
For his own and his family’s safety Pastor Kamran had left his home in Islamabad to relocate to Gujranwala. He had continued to make the journey between the two cities, a distance of around 140 miles, to minister at his church on Sundays. On one such visit on 21 September he needed emergency treatment after a murder attempt left him injured in the right leg.
Shahzad Salman, the pastor’s brother-in-law, said that in the weeks prior to his death, Pastor Kamran had received numerous anonymous threatening phone messages. Salman added that the phone numbers and CCTV footage were shared with police, and that security was subsequently provided to the family.
Salman shared with Barnabas project partners that Pastor Kamran had forgiven those responsible for the September attack and decided not to pursue legal action.
“Even after being injured, he chose forgiveness,” he said. “Over the past two Sundays, he had resumed travelling to Islamabad to lead prayers for his congregation.”
Following the incident, Pastor Kamran’s family are in hiding at an undisclosed location owing to concerns for their safety.
How you can pray
Pray for Pastor Kamran’s family as they grieve, asking that they will know the Lord’s abundant comfort and strength in the days ahead. Pray that they will be protected from hostility from extremists. Praise the Lord for Pastor Kamran’s life and ministry and pray that his faithfulness will have an enduring impact on the Christian community in both Islamabad and Gujranwala, to enable faith to grow and the light of the Gospel shine amid the darkness. Pray that those responsible for his death will be identified, brought to justice and called to repentance.
