February 21, 2007	Wednesday	Safar 3, 1428

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GUJRANWALA/LAHORE, Feb 20: The slain provincial minister, Zile Huma Usman, was given the portfolio three months ago. Prior to that she was parliamentary secretary on planning and development.

Born in Gujranwala in 1971, she did her graduation from the Government Girls College, Satellite Town. She did master’s in dress designing and LLB in tax laws from the Punjab University, Lahore.

She was married to Dr Muhammad Usman Haider at an early age, when she was the third year student. February 20 was the day of her wedding anniversary.

Her husband is currently in Canada attending a refresher course there. She was also scheduled to fly to Toronto on Feb 22.

She was elected member of parliament in 2002 against a special seat for women.

She was the daughter of Dr Nawaz Bajwa and grand daughter of noted industrialist Nisar Ahmad Bajwa. She left behind two sons, Mudassar Ali and Muhammad Ali.

LGH: She was airlifted to Lahore by the chief minister’s helicopter which landed at the Walton airport. From there she was rushed to the Lahore General Hospital at 2:10pm and was pronounced dead at around 2:50pm.

“We tried our level best to save her but she was received here in critical condition,” LGH medical superintendent Umer Farooq told newsmen.

He said a special team of senior doctors and neurosurgeons had been constituted soon after the hospital administration was informed about the murder attempt.

Huma’s body was removed to the city morgue by Rescue 1122.

A large number of people, including provincial ministers, members of parliament and government officials, reached the LGH.

According to her brother Muhammad Ali Bajwa, her funeral prayers will be held in Rahwali Cantt, Gujranwala, after the Zohr prayers on Wednesday (today).

Chief minister Pervaiz Elahi meanwhile asked the Gujranwala DPO to complete the challan of the case in two weeks so that the accused could be tried and convicted at the earliest.