Tags:
Journalism of Courage
Pakistan President General Pervez Musharraf has denied his remarks to The Washington Post last week that rape has become a 8220;money-making concern8221; in Pakistan.
The comments were not the main focus of the article. In its 12th paragraph, the Post quoted Musharraf as saying: 8220;A lot of people say if you want to go abroad8230;and be a millionaire, get yourself raped.8221;
The interview was conducted by three Washington Post reporters and tape-recorded. A review of the recording Sunday confirmed Musharraf made the remarks and was accurately quoted.
Musharraf made the remarks at the end of a nine-minute discussion of the case of Mukhtar Mai,who spoke publicly about having been gang-raped on the orders of village council in 2002.
In the interview, Musharraf said he was 8220;on the side of women8221; but that Pakistan was being unfairly 8220;singled out.8221;
Speaking of another high-profile rape case, he said he had arranged for a visa and 50,000 to be given to Shazia Khali8212;a doctor raped allegedly by an army office.
Musharraf then interjected the comments about rape, saying, 8220;It is the easiest way of doing it,8221; he continued. 8220;Every second person now wants to come up and get all the pause because there is so much of finances.8221; 8212;LAT-WP
