Mohammed Sarwar

Mohammed Sarwar (1967 – 27 January 2012), known as Maulvi Ghulam Sarwar or other variations, was a Pakistani murderer and suspected serial killer who was convicted and sentenced to death for killing politician and activist Zille Huma Usman in 2007. His case gained notoriety due to the fact that Sarwar had previously been acquitted under controversial circumstances for killing at least four prostitutes, for what he considered their disregard for Islamic law. He died of tuberculosis in prison in 2012 while awaiting his execution.

Early life Sarwar was born in Gujranwala in 1967. While little is known of his upbringing, his neighbors claimed that he was greatly influenced by his mother, a very religious woman who strictly adhered to the Ahl-i Hadith sect's teachings and observed purdah. After graduating from PB Model School, he attended various madrasas and eventually became a preacher who taught at local mosques. He lived with his wife and nine children in the district of Baghbanpura.

When he was not preaching, Sarwar ran a small store in the Daal Bazaar, where he was noted for refusing to sell any merchandise to women who did not wear the hijab. He also regularly attended sermons by Hafiz Saeed, the founder of Lashkar-e-Taiba, but it is unclear whether he was a member of the organization itself.

Murder of Zille Huma Usman On 20 February 2007, Sarwar attended a gathering in Gujranwala where Zille Huma Usman, the then-Provincial Minister for Social Welfare, was addressing party members on new policies. After questioning her attire, he drew a firearm and shot her in the head, inflicting fatal injuries. Usman succumbed to her wounds in the hospital. On 21 March he was convicted, with Justice Tariq Iftikhar sentencing him to death along with a substantial fine.

Following his conviction, Sarwar was incarcerated at Central Jail Lahore, where he remained on death row. Over the years, he developed tuberculosis, which progressively worsened, leading to his death on 27 January 2012. Some police officials raised suspicions regarding the circumstances of his death, though no conclusive evidence ever emerged.