On Zillae Huma Usman

#123


Yes, this is a typical serial killer`s psycho pathology. If, that would be the case then why so many ladies with out purdha are roaming around in Pakistan and nobody shoots them?

Why I always roam around in Pakistan in Purdha and still alive?

My whole point is that we shouldn`t accuse religions if some psycho path(fantaic mullah) murdered multiple women including the Paki Lady minister.

Such happenings are also in USA, where there is strict law. Agian, question is why it happens in America when there is NO such thing as religious extremist there?

My source -

None used the term ``cleric`` for GS. They considered him a fanatic or an extremist.

http://www.foxnews.com/printer_friendly_story/0,3566,259865,00.html
http://www.foxnews.com/printer_friendly_story/0,3566,253125,00.html

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Female Pakistani Minister Shot Dead for Refusing to Wear Veil
Wednesday, February 21, 2007

By Devika Bhat and Zahid Hussain


A Pakistani minister and woman’s activist was shot dead Tuesday by an Islamic extremist for refusing to wear the veil.

Zilla Huma Usman, the minister for social welfare in Punjab province and an ally of President Pervez Musharraf, was killed as she was about to deliver a speech to dozens of party activists, by a “fanatic”, who believed that she was dressed inappropriately and that women should not be involved in politics, officials said.

Usman, 35, was wearing the shalwar kameez worn by many professional women in Pakistan, but did not cover her head.

The attack happened in Gujranwala, 120 miles southeast of Islamabad, where the minister’s office is based. As Usman, 35, stepped out of her car – where she was greeted by her co-workers throwing rose petals - the attacker pulled out a pistol and fired a single shot at close range, hitting her in the head. She was airlifted to hospital in the provincial capital Lahore, but died soon afterwards.

The gunman, Mohammad Sarwar, was overpowered by the minister’s 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.

Sarwar appeared relaxed and calm when he told a television channel that he had carried out God’s order to kill women who sinned. “I have no regrets. I just obeyed Allah’s 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. That’s 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.

Usman, a married mother of two sons, joined the pro-Musharraf Pakistan Muslim League after being elected in 2002. A strong supporter of the President’s policy of “enlightened moderation” - designed to tackle extremism - she was appointed to her current post in December last year according to her government biography.

In April 2005, she encouraged the holding of a mini-marathon involving female competitors in Gujranwala – an event which led to riots after police intervened to stop armed Islamic activists from disrupting the race. She also ran a small fashion business from her base in the town.

Shaukat Aziz, the Prime Minister, paid tribute to the minister, describing her as a “committed and dedicated politician”. “During her short span as minister, she took several steps for the welfare of the people of Punjab,” he said. Zobaida Jalal, the federal Minister for Social Welfare, added that Usman’s death was an “unbearable loss to the cause of women rights and their empowerment”.

General Musharraf, whose support for the US-led war on terror has caused consternation among Pakistan`s hardline elements, has promised to address women’s rights as part of his more moderate agenda.

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 women’s 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.

Women make up just over 20 per cent of the lower house of parliament, according to the country’s main human rights group, and there are three women ministers in the cabinet of the federal government.

But widespread discrimination against females continues to be a problem in what remains a male-dominated society, particularly in the countryside, where most Pakistanis live.

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Pakistani Judge Sentences Man to Death for Murdering Female Minister
Tuesday , March 20, 2007

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan —

A man accused of shooting a provincial minister because he thought women should be kept out of high office was convicted of her murder and sentenced to death in a Pakistani court Tuesday, officials said.

Mohammed Sarwar was arrested on Feb. 21, shortly after he shot and killed Zil-e-Huma Usman, the Punjab Minister for Social Welfare, in Gujranwala, about 120 miles southeast of the capital, Islamabad.

Tariq Iftikhar, a judge at Gujranwala`s anti-terrorism court, convicted him Tuesday of murder and sentenced him to death by hanging, court official Abdul Wahid said.

It was not immediately clear whether Sarwar would appeal.

Police have said that Sarwar confessed to shooting Usman and told investigators that he had been targeting ``fashionable`` women he believed were ``spreading obscenity`` in Pakistani society and also that he believed that women were unsuited to holding high office.

Police said he was also a suspect in the killing of several prostitutes.

On Tuesday, prosecutor Shahid Muzaffar said the man pleaded not guilty during the trial, but that prosecutors had presented ``solid evidence`` to prove his responsibility.

Usman was a provincial leader of the ruling PML-Q party, which supports President Gen. Pervez Musharraf. Police said she had arrived in Gujranwala to address a gathering of her party when Sarwar shot her in the head at close range. She died hours later in hospital.

#121 teshah sahib

Sorry, I have absolutely different stand for this issue.

So, you`re in the favour of Hudood ordinance? hmmmm

Well, hudood ordinance is the most cruel , inhumane ordinance ever on this mother earth.
Thank God, it is no more there to haunt innocent Pakistani women.

As for as your point is quite valid that now what is the protection for innocent men who would be falsely accused of rape by whores?

Well, then rape charges always are seen by some evidence by strict law and order situation. Any where in the world not always innocent men are being accused of commiting rape.

And, as for as Miss MM`s case is. I believe Miss MM DESERVES all the LOVE, compassion, support and care from all of us. And I am thankful to American media that gave the poor brave lady full support and helped her in standing on her own feet.

Miss MM is a proud Pakistani Lady who did not surrender her rights to be treated as more than equal humanbeing.

Miss MM`s rape was the worst stigma in the history of Pakistan and also the more shameful act was to ban Miss MM to travel abroad by the current Govt.

And even more shameful was to use disgusting language for Miss MM by President Musharaf.

Chief of state is supposed to be the father of the nation, not some cruel plunderer..........

Re: # 104

Zina

Security by whom; by men whom you can then accuse of rape and dig a gold mine like MM? It was only Allah Who could wash away the `tohmat` of zina levelled against Bibi Aeysha: Who will do this now? Yousaf (AHS) had languished for years in jail as no Allah could come to his help to prove his innocence from the `tohmat` of attempt of rape of Zulekha. Any whore can now blackmail any man by accusing him of rape as the law no longer requires them to produce four witnesses to prove that and the very act of being raped has become a matter of honour by MM.

sattar2#119

Sorry, dear that is absolutely NOT my criterion. That is from Allah and ask any Muslim about this criterion.

If, you do not believe in this criterion. Continue your belief.

To you your belief and to us our belief.

Zeena (re #116),

That was YOUR criterion of a Muslim. Thanks, but no, thanks.

Merely insisting on something does not make it valid. Try to validate this belief (last prophet) from Quran. Can you?

Apparently Shah Waliullah was not a Muslim, according to your definition. Neither was Ibne Arabi.

You may also believe in Prophet Issa (pbuh) residing above clouds in flesh and blood, and call it Islam. My understanding of Islam differs from yours. And kids believe what they are taught. Santa Clause comes to mind, as another example. Once again, thanks, but no, thanks.

samar (#115),

The term “moulvi” is often used loosely, though I remain unclear on its meaning and connotation.

Is “moulvi” someone who has studied Islam in depth? Or is he someone who takes care of a mosque for an allowance, perhaps while teaching others to read and write, etc.? I dunno …

There is nothing stopping a locksmith from doing any of the above; don’t know if this answers your question #2 …

Newspapers say a lot of things that may not make sense. After all, journalists, like most of us, do have bills to pay, families to feed, and mother-in-laws to deal with. Some news sources may have agendas of their own … so they spin accordingly. And life goes on. This moulvi/locksmith issue may have been an honest mistake or part of a bigger twist …

Lastly, I do see a tendency among ullema to promote intolerance, violence, and hatred in the name of Islam. Is this killing an isolated incident or part of a bigger pattern? Your guess is as good as mine; devil is in the details.

People

So, what if the serial killer was a ,``maulvi or cleric``. Serial killer could be a computer geek, engineer or MD............a psychopath can be of any profession.

#113 sattar2

Sir

There is NO compromise in the following. This is the exact criteria of being Muslim.

{You have to strongly believe in Prophet Mohd(PBUH) as the LAST Prophet of ALL the Prophets.}
There is NO ifs and buts. There is no alternative. There is NO confusion about it among Muslims.

If you do believe in the above then you are MUSLIM, if You do not believe in the above and still looking for alternative than you are Non Muslim.

Even a small Muslim kid can tell you that.

Re: # 112, # 114,

Out of curiosity I checked up with other Paki newspapers and found that the News International calls the murderer a `Moulvi`.

Daily Times editorial too treats him a Moulvi.

As Khurram says in #112, Dawn prefers him to be a cleric.

Sattar Saheb, Could you enlighten me on the following, please?

1) According to Quran is there any difference between `Moulvi` and `cleric` or they have same meanings?

2) According to Quran can a blacksmith (or locksmith or whatsoever) be a Moulvi or cleric?

3) If not, why all these newspapers are bent upon raising the status of a blacksmith (or any other smith for that matter) to a cleric or a Moulvi ?

4) If yes, than does it make any difference if he is blacksmith, or locksmith or a Moulvi or a cleric?

Kindly do say something. I am dying to know.

Samar

Re #111, 112:

If views held by ullema are a reference, clerics very well could’ve played a role in instigating the killing. So yes, Sarwar himself was not a cleric, if this is any consolation.

(On the same note, his execution will probably not improve matters much either.)

We are debating existence of a tree, while ignoring the forest.

Zeena (#103),

I appreciate your stance of ”live of let live” … and that an Ahmadi has the right to consider himself a Muslim. It echoes my criticism of laws that aim to lock up Ahmadis for practicing Islam. Such laws are oppressive and violate spirit and message of Islam.

You further clarify that you are not an authority for any religion. I am not an authority on Islam either … and neither are ullema who frequently pass fatwas of kuffr against other sects within Islam. In Quran Allah Himself uses the term “Muslim” for believers, without vesting any authority in anyone to declare another a non-Muslim.

I recall reading a hadith where the dear Prophet (pbuh) stated that … when one declares another a non-Muslim, he himself goes outside the circle of Islam.

I also appreciate your definition of a Muslim. It differs from mine, and that’s alright. We can amicably disagree … without any animosity or need for either of us to be imprisoned.

+++

Since you’ve repeatedly raised the issue, I’ll briefly comment on “last prophet” issue:

My understanding of Quran, as well as ahadith, is that door to prophethood remains open. Divine Law got completed in form of Quran. Furthermore, Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) is the noblest of all prophets. Allah may continue to raise prophets to guide people back to Islam, to the teachings of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), as people go astray. This role of prophets, as messengers raised by Allah to warn and to remind people, is consistent with prophethood outlined in Quran.

Notion of continuation of prophethood has been supported by several well-known scholars from Islamic history.

I can cite several references – from Quran, ahadith, as well as other scholars - in support of this viewpoint … but will digress for now.

Re #112,

Yes, you are right. This is an error on Dawn`s part.
Let`s see if I can get them to correct it.

#109 by khurram,

Just a small correction. He`s not a `cleric `. He`s a locksmith.

I know you`ve reproduced whatever you`ve read, but this propaganda is wrong. Since you`re a serious interactor, please determine the facts and post a correction.

Regards.

Khurram - Thanks. Once the sentence is actually conducted, please post the update. Often times, the final verdict gets lost among various appeals. And such quick and speedy trials give a false impression to the world that justice was actually granted.

Dear Samar - Thank you for your insightful and poignant thoughts.

From Dawn,

LAHORE, Pakistan, March 20 (AFP) Ani anti-terrorism court Tuesday sentenced cleric Mohammad Sarwar to death for shooting dead a female minister because she was not wearing a veil, officials said. He was convicted a month after he gunned down at a public meeting Zilla Huma Usman, the social welfare minister for Punjab province, in Gujranwala town. Judge Tariq Iftikhar sentenced Sarwar to death on two counts, one for the murder of Zilla Huma and the other for spreading terrorism by the action, court official Amjad Ali said. Sarwar was also ordered to pay a fine of 200,000 rupees (3,333 dollars), he said. The bearded 40-year-old cleric did not react when the judge read out the sentence. The cleric had told police after the murder on February 20 that he killed Zille Huma because she was not wearing Islamic dress including a veil and that he opposed the involvement of women in politics.