Rape of another Kind

Ali

Quite right. If he does not have the courage to suspend the Zia`s Hadood Ordinance & Blasphemy Laws, the least he can do is to his keep shut.

He has said that the `others say this`. The `Others` around him are the police wallas, security and SHOs. Their mentality is indeed such.

Police Wallas are saying that Sonia is of a bad character. Implying that Rape of a bad character woman is justified. (reminds me of the movie `Zorba-the Greek)

nhk

These remarks by Gen are extremely arrogant and insulting to all the Pakistani people.
What else can you expect from these Generals, they have raped the constitution of the country, they have raped the whole country and now they are saying they are the Chowkidar of this country. My foot. People of Pakistan should send these guys to hell.

A woman getting raped in Pakistan! How shocking!

Army personnel SAY things that are false, offensive, and despicable? How new!

Army personnel DO things that are false, offensive, and despicable? Never happens!

The “president” is the face of the army? You don’t say!

All that the “president” has to do is to say sorry – then all would become honky-dory – like it used to be – like it has always been!

Therefore, go ahead Mr. “President”, say it – SOWWYY!

See, how the REAL problem can get fixed, like sheer magic!

He did not say it!

You see, Brig. Al, the “president” loves the country – he just plainly and plainly loves it just too much!

And love means NEVER having to say “sorry”!

Brigadier:

If you were the president of a country with dictatorial powers, what would you do? Can you chalk out few plans? How would you go about setting priorities between various problems of Pakistan: Defending the country, acquire Nukes, economic development, better schools, protecting dignity and image of the country, becoming leader in the Ummah, eradicating Heroin addiction in Pakistan, defending against Hindustan, Zionism, America, the West etc.
Well write few of yout thoughts here please!

Today morning I saw a news flash on Z-TV saying that President Musharraf has denied having made the statement which has been quoted.

Is this true ?

I happened to talk to a Pakistani colleague of mine who said that a statement of this kind could never have been made by the Leader of a country. He claimed the President must have been mis-quoted.

He went on to say that if the President had really made that remark, and had not been mis-quoted, surely it was the stupidest thing for any leader to have said.

So, what is the truth - was he mis-quoted, or was he stupid ?

#5 by nabendu on September 18, 2005 6:38am PT

He actually prefixed it with ``People say..`` and now he`s using that as a cop-out...It would have been plausible if he had added his own thoughts and how he disagreed.

Now why would you repeat something ``people say`` if you weren`t endorsing it in some way...

would el-presidente, for example, say ``people say all muslims are are terrorists`` and leave it at that? don`t you think he`d have added a ``but that`s not the truth`` followed by what he really thinks?

smooth..real smooth...this dude thinks he`s a fighter because he can shout down some paki chick?

Opponents are enemies of country: Musharraf

Dawn Report

NEW YORK, Sept 17: 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.

“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.

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.

“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.

“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.

Responding to the woman’s charge that he had retracted his interview to the Washington Post in which he was quoted as saying that some women used rape to get visa, Gen Musharraf said: “Lady, you are used to people who tell lies. I am not one of them.”

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.

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.”

Can anyone tell me how I can get the whole transcript of the president`s talk with the Washington Post where he made that comment?
Thanks.

Re: # 4
...it is interesting to note how all the retired brigadiers and generals start writing about the abuse and oppression of army on pakistani populace after they have retired...

it is obvious that the comment was a stupid one and an educated or westernized person such as PM would normally be aware not to make such remarks.

but the reason why it was made may be due to the stress the general was facing. When folks are stressed out, they are more likely to fumble and reveal something of their true selves. If I am not wrong, very little headway was gained on the foreign policy front (with India and the USA) and the UN speech also shows a strange disconnect. all this suggests a lot of stress/frustration and also is reflected in the encounter with the woman protestor in one of the talks.

another possibility is that .. and this is pure speculation ... is that the general himself has some skeleton in his personal closet.. perhaps somewhere in his career .. making such statements more likely ..

Dear Brigadier Ali,

President Musharraf ‘s statement is totally unbecoming of a President of a nation that is in search for a softer image. President Musharraf wants an enlightened and moderated Pakistan. How is it possible, when he himself and most of his cabinet members, come across as haughty, pompous, arrogant and loud mouthed? The way that they come across on T.V. shows that they are mightier than the viewers, smarter than most of us, and we must bow before them. They have no concept on how to communicate on T.V.

I have always wondered how is it possible for some Pakistanis, who are generally loud mouthed, to suddenly change and be mild mannered? These Pakistanis have values that are very embarrassing in today’s world. How would these people be able to show dignity and respect for other’s opinion? Can culture be ingrained in a society overnight just because its President wants it? I don`t think so.

An enlightened society is a society of civic mindedness, where people know their rights and their responsibilities. Judging at the behavior of some Pakistanis, it seems that Pakistan would have to start a massive educational drive to create a society of civic-minded Pakistanis. And maybe this program should start with this President and his cabinet.

Respectfully submitted,

B

# 8

OK, since you asked...

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Musharraf: No Challenge From Bush On Reversal

...

Musharraf also became animated when he spoke about the case of Mukhtar Mai, a 33-year-old illiterate woman who spoke publicly about having been gang-raped on the orders of village council in 2002. Mai, bucking taboos, won public sympathy and government support after she demanded that the men be charged and convicted. But earlier this year Musharraf earned the ire of the Bush administration when he blocked her from traveling to the United States to publicize the case.

Musharraf said that Mai was free to travel now -- though she has never left Pakistan -- and that he had no regrets about how he handled the incident. He said Mai had come under the sway of organizations determined to harm Pakistan`s image and he did not think Pakistan ``should be singled out when the curse is everywhere in the world.`` He noted he had seen reports or figures about rape in the United States, Canada, France and Britain showing that ``it is happening everywhere.``

``You must understand the environment in Pakistan,`` Musharraf added. ``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.``

...

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An interview with President Musharaf,in which he mentioned,``comparison between the incidence of rape in western countries and Pakistan. It’s happening everywhere, he said, and then added: “You must understand the environment in Pakistan. This has become a money-making concern. A lot of people say if you want to go abroad and get a visa for Canada and citizenship and be a millionaire, get yourself raped.”

I have never ever heard such a cruel statement by any person in my whole life and I am sure will never hear it again.No,human can say such a thing.I am sure,even a rapist can not say such thing.This statement makes me sick to the extent that I feel sorry fo poor Pakistanis who has such a President(head of state).

On,side note,I think Musharaf has her own daughter and wife as well.What if samething happen to them?Will he say the samething for them as well?

Mr.President you are not only wrong,but,extremely cruel and pathetic.

When ever we hear a news about RAPE in Pakistan. On interrogation, all Paki Govt. officals state,``Oh,RAPE,well this is happening everywhere in the world.More common in Western countries.`` And,by making such a stupid and cruel statement they think,their duty is over and they could easily get away with it.

Well,first of RAPE is UNDER REPORTED in Pakistan.Then,even if it is reported,is not being supported by any Govt agencies.Rather RAPISTS have a lots of support from Govt,b/c lots of RAPISTS are either Ministers,senators,army officials or they have strong connections with them.So,they easily get away with RAPE.

Pakistan is so,called Islamic nation,how can RAPE even be committed?

I am sure Pakistan has more RAPES,COMPARED to USA,b/c of ignorance and poverty.

My answer to this dumb statement is,don`t make such statement which are not only cruel,but,they are justifying and favouring RAPE.By,saying this these officials become part of rapists team.

wo wo wo! Mr President..................now i would like to ask......if it happens vthin your family......and we suppose to use the words as you used....then what ?

This article was written by Naeem Sadiq, a frequent Chowk contributor. It was erroneously published under a different name. We apologize for the oversight. Eds.

I am usually a staunch supporter of Musharraf, because inspite of all his bluntness and bluster, he means well and he has at least taken Pakistan out of a series of crises. But this time he really has gone too far with this statement, and rather than denying it he should have accepted it and attributed it to frustration and anger, or whatever, but he should have handled it differently.

Speaking of sweeping, untenable statements, here`s one from the writer of the article:

``I do not know of a single woman who chose to be raped, so that she could migrate to Canada. But I do know of many thousand men and women who chose to migrate to Canada because they did not want to be raped and end up in a hopeless and helpless situation in Pakistan.``

This is the opening paragraph! Dear sir, most people emigrate to foreign lands to escape a vicious circle of poverty and lack of opportunities. But I think anyone would be hard-pressed to find a large number of people who escape Pakistan specifically to avoid being raped! On the other hand, if you are using the word `rape` as a metaphor for a larger phenomenon of social and economic injustice, then you are right. But, considering the subject of the article, it is a bad choice of metaphor.

@Zeena,
Thank you, your support and compassion is a welcome relief. I wish there were more foreigners like you.

Regards,
Irfan.