An Overworked President?
By Zakaria Virk
Kingston, Canada


In an interview with The Washington Post during his most recent visit to the US, President Musharraf is reported to have said: “You must understand the environment in Pakistan. 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.” How would the President feel if a raped woman was the daughter of a military officer or one of his close ministers?
Then during a meeting organized to meet women in New York to allay their concerns, the general lashed out at critics. According to published reports when “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. As the shouting match heated, Gen. Musharraf told a woman: “I am a fighter; I will fight you. I do not give up, and if you can shout, I can shout louder.” He then snapped at another woman: “Are you a Benazir supporter? [The] lady was prime minister of Pakistan twice, ask her what she has done for Pakistan.”
If the President is over worked, he needs to take time off. These were cheap shots by a respected military general.

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