Police Uncover ‘Inside Job’ Behind Gujranwala Pastor’s Killing

Police say the killing of Pastor Kamran Naz in Gujranwala was not religiously motivated but a planned murder-for-hire, allegedly involving close personal connections, after a detailed investigation.

Gujranwala, Pakistan — The killing of Pastor Kamran Naz in Gujranwala has taken a dramatic turn, with police saying the crime was not religiously motivated but a cold-blooded conspiracy allegedly planned by his wife and her alleged accomplice.

Investigators say the murder, initially portrayed as a faith-related attack, was in fact the result of a personal relationship and a meticulously planned hit. According to police findings, Kamran Naz’s wife, Salmina, allegedly conspired with Najam Saqib, described by investigators as a goods company owner, to eliminate her husband.

Police allege the two met through an NGO-linked contact and grew close over time. As the relationship deepened, investigators say the pair decided to remove Kamran Naz from their lives and planned to move to the United States after his death, allegedly intending to seek political asylum there.

To execute the plan, police say the suspects hired contract shooters for Rs3.3 million. The hired gunmen reportedly arrived in Gujranwala days in advance and conducted surveillance on the pastor, tracking his movements and routine.

On December 5, police say, the shooters struck as Kamran Naz stepped out of his home, killing him in what appeared to be a targeted attack. In the immediate aftermath, attempts were allegedly made to give the incident a religious angle, potentially to divert attention from the real motive.

However, investigators say careful analysis, surveillance data and interrogation led them to uncover the alleged plot. Punjab Police officials credit the breakthrough to technical evidence and coordinated investigative work that exposed what they describe as a premeditated murder-for-hire scheme, rather than a sectarian crime.

Police have launched formal proceedings against the suspects and say further arrests and disclosures may follow as the investigation continues.

The case has shocked the local community, not only for the brutality of the killing but for the revelation that it may have been orchestrated from within the victim’s own household.

Authorities stress that the investigation is ongoing and that all suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty in court, while vowing to pursue the case to its legal conclusion.