El Prezidento Musho, the fastest yapping general in the Yeast....El Prezidento is much more comfortable in front of a choreographed audience, god forbid if ppl with a concience were to be present bunch of antipakistan elements.
Arent u guys sick and tired of this charade? Whenever ppl speak their minds which doesnt gel with the establishments viewpoint it is immediately branded antipak?
Fact is that WP has reitirated Mush statement and have it on tape, Mush wants to make another U-Turn, thats what he is good at other than his cushy relationship with idiots like EL Honcho Bush and the Fundos MMA.
President Pervez Musharraf’s latest comments against his country’s non-governmental organizations, particularly the ones raising women’s rights issues, goes counter to his otherwise progressive profile. Some critics have accused him of trivialising the agony of the women who have been victims of oppression that is deep-rooted in the patriarchal society. The Canadian prime minister has already condemned his remarks that rape is generally believed to be a short cut to destined lands, while international rights organizations have termed the comments insensitive. It came as a relief, therefore, to learn that the president has subsequently denied the comments and claimed that they do not reflect his own views but those of other sections in Pakistani society.
One lesson from this unfortunate episode is crystal clear: people holding senior positions in the government must curb their tendency to make off-the-cuff comments that, intentionally or unintentionally, fuel further controversy on issues regarding women’s rights in Pakistan. They should also refrain from blanket attacks on those groups working on issues as heinous as rape, assaults, domestic violence and other forms of oppression against women that are rampant in the country.
If Pakistan is to be presented to the world as a forward-looking, progressive country, our leaders must refrain from presenting self-defeating arguments that show us as a nation that would rather bury its head in the sand than face stark realities.
There are indeed people in this country who believe that human rights NGOs as well as female victims of heinous crimes are damaging the country’s image abroad by raising their sufferings during their visits to foreign countries or through international media. They allege that the rights movement in the country is fuelled by vested interest. The president must distance himself from this retrogressive section of the population and speak out on behalf of the progressive agenda he has supported in the past. He must distance himself from those bent on undermining the efforts of civil society over the past three decades for upholding human rights and dignity, democratic freedoms and principles of pluralism.
A person who has been glorified so far internationally as having been the architect of women’s political participation by giving them representation in all democratic institutions is now being painted in black by the world media. The controversial interview appeared at a time when world leaders were gathered in New York to review the progress on the Millennium Development Goals which envisage protection of women’s rights as a cornerstone. The President must realise that civil society has a central role to play in the development process at a time when his government is pursuing a plethora of social and economic reforms guided by the neo-liberal paradigm.
The role of state is being squeezed around the world and is being replaced by a vibrant civil society and free market. If the President believes that the state can go it alone, he is only going against the spirit of reforms that his government is undertaking. His much cherished soft and progressive Pakistan is not possible without the basic rights and freedoms that could only be fostered under truly democratic governance. Any attempt to silence and marginalize the groups who are struggling against the barriers of traditions to development will only shrink the space for civil society and could lead to an autocratic state.
stupid leader and even-stupider followers. this guy has done nothing to improve anything in pakistan. infact things have gone bad to worse but only those are happy about his none-existance-reforms who live abroad. bcos these reforms are not going to hurt them in anyway so all is well.
No, read the interview. He said some people were saying such things, NOT him, and that is why the Washington Post never made that the centre piece of their story. Go read the article for yourself, and see.
(CNN) – Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf has denied telling the Washington Post that claiming to be raped was a money-making ploy for Pakistanis hoping to make money and get a visa to Canada.“I’m not that silly and stupid to say this,” Musharraf told CNN’s Jonathan Mann Saturday in New York. "I never said it. Let me clearly say this. I never said it, and I’m totally misquoted."In an interview published Tuesday in the Post, Musharraf said that rape is not just a problem in Pakistan, but happens in other countries, as well. He was referring to the case of a Pakistani woman who said she was gang-raped on the orders of village officials in 2002.
“You must understand the environment in Pakistan,” Musharraf was quoted as saying in the article. "This has become a moneymaking concern. A lot of people say if you want to go abroad and get a visa for Canada or citizenship and be a millionaire, get yourself raped."The comment caused outrage in a number of countries. Angry protesters gathered Saturday on the streets of New York, where Musharraf was attending a United Nations summit.Musharraf told CNN the remark was made in his presence, but he did not say it.“This is absolutely out of context. These are not my words,” he said. “I never said it. I was in the presence of people who said this. This is where it started.”
“I am not that stupid to say that kind of thing,” he said. "I know that rape is happening in Pakistan. I know there is violence against women."But, he said, “I am supportive of all women, all actions to emancipate the women, against violence against women, and gender equality,” and he said his government has done more for women than any in the past 50 years.“I have protected them, I have provided finances, I have provided them judicial support.”
Those who are against or dislike Musharraf, tell us what choice do Pakistani ppl have? There are no LEADERS in Pakistan. It’s all bunch of thugs and muggers ruining Pakistan for the past 50 years. Why the leadership is only confined to few families? Do you have a better choice than Musharraf?
Musharraf Denies Rape Comments
Recording Shows Post Article Correctly Quoted Pakistani President
By Glenn Kessler
Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, September 19, 2005; Page A12
Gen. Pervez Musharraf, the president of Pakistan, has denied telling The Washington Post in an interview last week that claiming rape has become a “moneymaking concern” in Pakistan and that many Pakistanis felt it was an easy way to make money and get a Canadian visa.
The comments have outraged women’s groups and sparked protests across Pakistan, marring a high-profile trip that Musharraf has made to the United States to promote a moderate image of Pakistan. His trip included speeches to a Jewish group and a women’s group while attending the U.N. General Assembly. Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin formally protested the reported remarks in a meeting with Musharraf on the sidelines of the U.N. gathering.
From The Post
Musharraf: No Challenge From Bush On Reversal
UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 12 – President Bush, who has been promoting democracy around the world, has never questioned Pakistan’s president, Gen. Pervez Musharraf, about his controversial decision last year to renege on a pledge to step down as army chief, Musharraf said in a wide-ranging interview.
From The Wires
Musharraf Addresses Comments on CNN
ISLAMABAD - President Pervez Musharraf denied on Saturday telling the Washington Post that many Pakistanis felt crying rape was an easy way to make money and get a Canadian visa, saying the remark was made by someone else.
“Let me say with total sincerity that I never said that, and it has been misquoted,” Musharraf told the women’s group. “These are not my words, and I would go to the extent of saying I am not so silly and stupid to make comments of this sort.”
In an interview Saturday with CNN, Musharraf said that the remarks were made by someone else in his presence and not by him.
The rape comments were not the main focus of the article, published Tuesday, which covered a broad range of topics discussed in a 50-minute interview. In the article’s 12th paragraph, The Washington Post quoted Musharraf as saying: “This has become a moneymaking concern. A lot of people say if you want to go abroad and get a visa for Canada or citizenship and be a millionaire, get yourself raped.”
The interview was conducted by three Washington Post reporters and was tape-recorded. A review of the recording yesterday confirmed that Musharraf – who was surrounded by aides who took notes and also recorded the interview – was accurately quoted.
Musharraf made the remarks at the end of a nine-minute discussion on the case of Mukhtar Mai, 33, an illiterate woman who spoke publicly about having been gang-raped on the orders of a village council in 2002. Mai won public sympathy and government support after she demanded that the men be charged and convicted. Earlier this year, however, the Bush administration assailed Musharraf when he blocked Mai from coming to the United States to publicize the case.
In the interview, Musharraf said that he is “on the side of women” but that Pakistan is being unfairly “singled out when this curse is happening everywhere in the world.” Speaking of another high-profile rape case, he said that he had arranged for a visa and for $50,000 to be given to Shazia Khalid – a Pakistani medical doctor who was raped by a masked intruder, allegedly an army officer – so she could leave the country. Khalid has applied for asylum in Canada.
Then, as the reporters prepared to move to the next question, Musharraf interjected the comments about rape as a moneymaking concern, saying it was the “popular term” in Islamabad.
“It is the easiest way of doing it,” he continued. “Every second person now wants to come up and get all the [pause] because there is so much of finances. Dr. Shazia, I don’t know. But maybe she’s a case of money, that she wants to make money. She is again talking all against Pakistan, against whatever we’ve done. But I know what the realities are.”
So not only is Musharraf a buffoon but he also turns out to be a spineless buffoon. His denial of his previous statement simply show that he is unable to stand up for his beliefs.
For those that think Mushy is doing a good job, take a trip to Pakistan. The sense of frustration among the people is at its peak, this dicktator has appointed Army at the top of every single civil instution.
The Army has taken over vacant lands. The Army is doing every single damn thing except the one thing they were made to do: defend the country. They have lost half of it already.
The most common argument used by Mushy supporters and liberals is no one else in Pakistan is any better. Wow so now we have to listen to a general because there is no one else in the country who can run it any better? :hehe:
//Musharraf zindabad. He handled the questions very well.//
No wonder he makes an ass of himselfy every time.
To say that the women get themselves raped to get to Canada shows the kind of desperation that the people have to get out of the country. Being a president he should not have said (or quoted) these statements.
buy the the govt bull and think he is the saviour. Until we get rid of this moron we wont know what else is available. You will never find out who else might be an option if mushy stays in power , he will make sure that no one better than him comes around.
EXACTLY. The pro Musharraf morons think that Musharraf is the be all and end all of Pakistan politics. Musharraf is a nobody who used a military coup to gain power. He will crush any opposition in order to stay in power.
now lets hear the spin!
