While feminists in this country rail about being kicked off a loser's campaign blog, they ignore the plight of women half a world away toiling under the thumb of the very real Oppressive Patriarchy of the ROP.

"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, adding that the suspect was a known extremist with a history of targeting women he considered “immoral”.

The attack happened in Gujranwala, 120 miles southeast of Islamabad, where the minister’s office is based. As Ms 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 man - identified as Mohammad Sarwar – was overpowered by the minister’s driver and arrested by police, who claimed that he confessed to the killing. A former student and stonemason in his 40s, Sarwar was previously held in 2002 in connection with the killing of four prostitutes, but was never convicted due to lack of evidence.

“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.”

Ms 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.

stein hoist: Hot Air

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