I remember few days ago many of our friends were claiming it must be lower level clerk/offical who put her on ECL…and now this. It amazes me that some people can see so clearly through western Govt’s plans and workings from a mile but can’t see truth in their own backyard. selective vision?
Musharraf has admitted he stopped her from going abroad.
President General Pervez Musharraf said on Friday that he ordered a travel ban on Mukhtar Mai to protect Pakistan’s image abroad.
Gen Musharraf said Mukhtar Mai, the victim of a punchayat-ordered gang rape, was being taken to the United States by foreign non-government organisations “to bad-mouth Pakistan” over the “terrible state” of the nation’s women. He said NGOs are “Westernised fringe elements” which “are as bad as the Islamic extremists”.
He acknowledged that he placed the 36-year-old on the list of people banned from leaving Pakistan while responding to media questions during a three-day visit to New Zealand.
“She was told not to go” to the United States to appear on media there to tell her story, Gen Musharraf told the Auckland Foreign Correspondents’ Club. The government lifted the travel ban on Wednesday after Mai appealed to Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz. Musharraf said atrocities are perpetrated daily against women in developing nations round the world - “in Kashmir and many other places”.
“I don’t want to project the bad image of Pakistan,” he told the journalists’ club.
Mush Bhai seems to be more worried about his image, strange. If a poor woman is raped and ask’s for justice is bad press I fear what Mush thinks is good press for enlightened moderation? Constipation levels rises…
Mr Mush is quite rightly worried about the image of the country he is in charge of..... He already has a huge problem trying to tell the world that Paks isnt filled with crazy Islamisists hell bent on blowing the world to bits, he has to try show the world that Paks people are not crazy lunatics and so what would paks gain from this lady being paraded from one country to another giving out the message that her countrymen are wild uncouth barbarians (ok.... so some of them are) but its something that poeple think anyway and she will reinforce the view.
I hope he will try to sort it out as an internal affair.
L_D
On the contrary, had Mai been allowed to go abroad and plead her case, intl press wud hv appreciated Musharrafs resolve to allow women the liberty they so much deserve. By not doing so, he has made a mockery of his enlightened moderation and so called liberal agenda.
Tribal values continue to supercede State initiative and writ of the Govt remains subject to sardari/mulla interpertation. And, ye things are extremely bad in Pakistan where the weaker segment of population continue to be terrorized.
^ I'm actually serious. I'm actually a bit of a utilitarian at heart.
:)
The interesting thing to note is that Musharraf was graceful and strong enough to actually acknowledge the opinions of the press and the people, and actually REVERSE his command.
Yes, do EVERYTHING you can to solve the problem at hand - abuse of women.
But!!!!!! Don't give anyone a reason to use that as an excuse to bomb you and take over your country. Already the media is giving reports about how oppressed women are in Iran. The media rumor is also that Iran is next on the bombing schedule.
Thank God Pakistan is not bursting with oil at every step of its land. Thank God its only in a few areas if anything. Otherwise, you'll be seeing Pakistan bombed also, methinks.
Mush is not an idiot, nor is he anti-female, nor does he have any issue with blatantly telling people that yes, his country is in ruins and there is a lot of barbaric crap going on inside of it.
Sometimes you have to really look in the long run.
I just hope he sat down himself with Mukhtaran Mai and told her how to be tactful in her comments to clarify and repeat a great deal that this female abuse is not Islamically accepted and that the government of Pakistan and its people are doing their best to eradicate it given their resources.
PCG - all that good stuff aside, seriously though, Pakistan got nukes, we aren't going to be as heavy-handed with them as we are with a country like Iraq - just stating a fact. It is not like Pakistan hasn't had any sanctions before, should be second nature by now.
Now see minah pa on gs you never know. I havent particularly hunted her so why so protective? at PCG’s last para. that’ll happen, they’ll sit have a talk , get a drink, no hard feeling mate! and i am being sarcastic
^ I would not underestimate Mukhtaran. Nor would I underestimate Musharraf. In that kind of a country, to do something out of good will and actually accomplish it means that you're dealing with someone extraordinary.
Mush Bhai seems to be more worried about his image, strange. If a poor woman is raped and ask’s for justice is bad press I fear what Mush thinks is good press for enlightened moderation? Constipation levels rises…
at PCG’s last para. that’ll happen, they’ll sit have a talk , get a drink, no hard feeling mate! and i am being sarcastic