View source for Zille Huma Usman

{{Short description|Pakistani politician (1971–2007)}}
{{Use Pakistani English|date=September 2019}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2019}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name        = Zill-e-Huma Usman
| birth_name  =
| birth_date  =  September 16, 1971
| birth_place = [[Gujranwala]], Pakistan
| death_date  = {{death date and age|2007|2|20|1971|9|16}}
| death_place = Gujranwala, Pakistan
| death_cause = [[Murder of Zille Huma Usman|Assassination by gunshots]]
| nationality = Pakistani
| other_names =
| known_for   = Provincial minister for social welfare in [[Punjab (Pakistan)|Punjab]], she was shot and killed on February 20, 2007
| alma_mater  =
| occupation  =  Politician and activist for [[women's rights]]
| spouse      =
| awards       =
| organization =
}}
'''Zill-e-Huma Usman''' (16 September 1971 - 20 February 2007) was a Pakistani politician and [[women's rights]] activist. She served as a minister during the military dictatorship of [[Pervez Musharraf]] until her assassination.
==Personal life==
Zill-e-Huma earned her LLB in 1997 and later completed her Master's degree in [[Political science|Political Science]] from the [[University of the Punjab]], [[Lahore]].<ref name="Education">{{cite web |title=Zil-e-Huma Usman |url=https://www.pakpedia.pk/zille-huma-usman/ |website=Pakpedia {{!}} Pakistan's Biggest Online Encyclopedia |date=20 February 2018}}</ref> Usman was married to Dr. Muhammad Usman Haider.<ref>{{cite web |title=Violent debate on women's rights in Pakistan |url=https://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0306/p06s01-wosc.html |website=Christian Science Monitor |date=6 March 2007}}</ref> They had two sons.
== Career ==
She was the only member of her family involved in politics and was affiliated with the [[Pakistan Muslim League (Q)]].<ref name="Education" /><ref name="BBC">{{cite news |title=Gunman kills Pakistani minister |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/6379169.stm |date=20 February 2007}}</ref>
In the [[2002 Pakistani general election]], Usman contested for a seat in the [[Provincial Assembly of the Punjab]], receiving a significant number of votes. From 2003 to 2006, she served as the Parliamentary Secretary for Development and Planning, and in 2006, she was appointed as the Minister for Social Welfare for Women.<ref name="Education" />
==Assassination and trial==
While serving as the Provincial Minister for Social Welfare in [[Punjab (Pakistan)|Punjab]], Usama was shot and killed on 20 February 2007<ref>{{cite news |title=Provincial minister's murder condemned |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/233879 |work=DAWN.COM |date=21 February 2007 |language=en}}</ref> in [[Gujranwala]], 70&nbsp;km (43 miles) north of Lahore. She was meeting with party members when a man in the group opened fire, hitting her in the head. Usman was initially taken to a local hospital in Gujranwala but then airlifted to Lahore. She succumbed to her injuries during the surgery.<ref>{{cite news |title=Woman minister killed by fanatic |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/233951/woman-minister-killed-by-fanatic |work=DAWN.COM |date=21 February 2007 |language=en}}</ref><ref name="BBC" />
Her assassin, [[Mohammed Sarwar (murderer)|Mohammed Sarwar]], was reportedly motivated by her refusal to adhere to the [[sartorial hijab|Islamic code of dress]] and his opposition to women's involvement in politics. Sarwar had previously been imprisioned for murder and mutilation of four prostitutes and stated in a television interview, “I will kill all those women who do not follow the right path, if I am freed again”.<ref>Devika Bhat and Zahid Hussain: [https://web.archive.org/web/20070222073822/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article1414137.ece Female Pakistani minister shot dead for 'breaking Islamic dress code'], ''[[The Times]]'', February 20, 2007</ref> On 20 March 2007, he was sentenced to death;<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.foxnews.com/story/pakistani-judge-sentences-man-to-death-for-murdering-female-minister |title=Pakistani Judge Sentences Man to Death for Murdering Female Minister |publisher=Foxnews.com |date=2007-03-20 |access-date=2013-09-23}}</ref> but he died of [[tuberculosis]] in [[Central Jail Lahore]] on 27 January 2012.<ref>{{cite news |title=Prison death: Minister's killer dies of tuberculosis |url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/327961/punjab-mpas-murderer-dead-under-suspicious-circumstances |work=The Express Tribune |date=27 January 2012 |language=en}}</ref>
==See also==
*[[Islamic feminism]]
==References==
{{reflist}}
==External links==
*[http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,21262240-2703,00.html The Australian] Pakistani minister killed for refusing to wear veil.
*[http://www.app.com.pk/en/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=4273&Itemid=2 APP] Zille Huma Usman assassinated.
{{DEFAULTSORT:Usman, Zilla Huma}}
[[Category:1971 births]]
[[Category:2007 deaths]]
[[Category:Pakistani politicians]]
[[Category:Pakistani feminists]]
[[Category:Assassinated Pakistani politicians]]
[[Category:Deaths by firearm in Pakistan]]
[[Category:Proponents of Islamic feminism]]
[[Category:Pakistani Muslims]]
[[Category:People murdered in Pakistan]]
[[Category:Victims of serial killers]]
[[Category:Asian politicians assassinated in the 2000s]]
[[Category:Politicians assassinated in 2007]]
{{PunjabPK-MPA-stub}}