Feminist Pakistani Minister Killed Because of Her Outfit
Feminism in Pakistan suffered a major blow yesterday when Zilla Huma Usman, the minister of social welfare in the Punjab province, was shot dead by a fanatic convinced that women should not hold positions and government, and that she was dressed inappropriately.
The gunman, Mohammad Sarwar, was overpowered by the ministers driver and arrested by police. A stone mason in his mid 40s, he is not thought to belong to any radical group but is known for his fanaticism. He was previously held in 2002 in connection with the killing and mutilation of four prostitutes, but was never convicted due to lack of evidence.
Mr Sarwar appeared relaxed and calm when he told a television channel that he had carried out Gods order to kill women who sinned. I have no regrets. I just obeyed Allahs commandment, he said, adding that Islam did not allow women to hold positions of leadership. I will kill all those women who do not follow the right path, if I am freed again, he said.
He is basically a fanatic, Raja Basharat, the Punjab Law Minister, said. He is against the involvement of women in politics and government affairs. A police statement added: He considers it contrary to the teachings of Allah for a woman to become a minister or a ruler. Thats why he committed this action.
He killed her because she was not observing the Islamic code of dress. She was also campaigning for emancipation of women, said Nazir Ahmad, a local officer.
Pakistan, while an overwhelmingly Muslim country, continues to be governed secularly by general Pervez Musharraf who has thus far resisted right-wing elements in the country pressuring him to conform to Sharia law. Under many interpretations of that system women would be forbidden from holding positions of power and would be forced to adhere to a strict dress code. Despite ingrained resistance against women's rights in the country some progress has been made, and elected officials like Usman are a symbol of that progress, a symbol that is undoubtedly infuriating to its opponents.
But analysts said that the murder of the female minister highlighted the failure of his government in curbing Islamic extremism. The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan in a recent report said that violence against women had increased alarmingly, with some of the incidents incited by Mullahs opposed to womens emancipation.
Islamists also campaigned against the Women Protection Bill which was recently passed by parliament, which seeks to provide protection to women who have suffered discrimination under Islamic Sharia laws.
