On Friday, I posted about a coalition of activists who were planning on calling out Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf by protesting in front of his Manhattan hotel yesterday. Did any of our New York-area mutineers attend? If you did, tell us what you saw— it sounds like it was pure DRAMA (Thanks, Manish):
Pandemonium broke out at a meeting organized to promote Pakistan’s soft image when after a confrontation with human rights activists an irate President Pervez Musharraf declared that those who opposed his policies were the enemies of Pakistan. [link]
You are against me and Pakistan, said the president when a human rights activist referred to his alleged comments in a Washington Post interview which quoted him (Gen Musharraf) as saying that women exploited rape to get visas.[link]
Wow. Way to keep your cool, there Sir.
CNN has more about how Mushie backpedals furiously:
“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.”
He’s provided judicial support to women but he can’t provide his own open ears. More from Dawn:
Provoked by a single question, the president allowed an event held to promote his government’s pro-women policies to degenerate into a bout between himself and part of the invited audience.[link]
I’m scared of you, General Musharraf:
I am a fighter, I will fight you. I do not give up and if you can shout, I can shout louder, said Gen Musharraf.[link]
He’ll especially shout louder if you cite the wrong sources. How Professor-y! Also, if you have something to say, say it to his FACE…when he’s in Pakistan.
I wish you had quoted Muslim scholars as opposed to British scholars, said the president to the woman who had quoted some American scholars to make her point…As the human rights and women groups protested outside the Roosevelt Hotel against the treatment of rape victims in Pakistan Gen Musharraf said that such protests should be held in and not outside Pakistan.[link]
But protests WERE held in Pakistan about his “rape = ticket to goodies” comment. Methinks the General was flustered and frustrated; this isn’t pretty P.R.
When a woman raised her voice to ask a question, the president said: Are you a Benazir supporter? A lady was prime minister of Pakistan twice, ask her what she has done for Pakistan…You have disappointed me. I am disappointed with people like you. You work with people who looted and plundered the nation. You are against national interest, you have your own agenda.[link]
He said that people like her had some personal agenda for highlighting cases that hurt Pakistan’s reputation. I know that there are people with vested interests and financial interests who are against Pakistan.[link]
The situation became so heated, the Pakistani ambassador to the U.S. (Jehangir Karamat— Senior to Mushie in the Army) tried to gently steer the President away before it got worse. This was about as effective as telling a 13-year old brown girl she’s not allowed to wear makeup.
Musharraf isn’t totally in denial:
Earlier in his speech, Gen Musharraf highlighted two issues violence against women and gender inequality, saying that the violence was abhorrent and shameful and his government was making laws to end this curse.[link]
He acknowledged that Pakistan’s record on violence against women left much to be desired. We should be ashamed of it and improve the situation for ourselves and the world to see, he said.[link]
Then again, perhaps I typed too soon:
But he firmly stated that he stood opposed to anyone who sought to single out Pakistan by highlighting individual cases outside Pakistan, given that rape was a worldwide issue.[link]
