Women NGOs will not be allowed to malign Pakistan: Musharraf
Pakistan Times Staff Report

NEW YORK (US): While extending complete support to the causes of women in Pakistan, President General Pervez Musharraf has declared that he would not allow politically motivated NGOs to malign Pakistan abroad.

Addressing Pakistani American women in New York Saturday, President for once appeared extremely angry with some NGOs who have political and financial agenda and who want to parade Pakistani rape victims in the streets of USA to achieve their narrow goals. He vowed to oppose such NGOs all the way. “If you malign Pakistan abroad and oppose me, I will oppose you all the way. If you can shout I can shout louder than you. Don’t forget I am a fighter” said the President when confronted with some very nasty questions by some Washington based women activists.

The conference hall was packed to capacity and even the lobbies were thronged with Pakistani women who had come from all nooks and corners of USA to hear what their President had to say on women issues. Musharraf had to face a sharply divided House which later on turned into free for all. President Musharraf as he is, could not take adverse comments by some PPP and PML(N) women activists about Pakistan. “I will not tolerate anybody harming Pakistan and bringing bad name by parading Pakistani women in streets abroad” he said adding that if these NGOs are sincere to work for women causes they should join hands with the government rather than taking political mileage through isolated rape cases.

President while replying to a question by Ms Sabara Qureshi said that , “ I know you are PPP activist and want to bring me down . Let me make it very clear that I will not allow looters and plunderers to be back to loot further my country, Pakistan,” said the President with unbounded anger. He also invited Dr Shazia to be back in Pakistan also offered full security and protection. “Dr Shazia and I alone know how I covered up that lady and how we helped her and now she is working against us on the behest of some vested lobbies. Let us see if Dr Shazia accepts my offer and come back to Pakistan. He said he stood totally with women in the struggle for women rights and for combating violence against women.

Organisers said it was the first time that a Pakistani head of state had ever addressed a gathering exclusively comprising women, which drew a packed audience with the remaining women seated in adjacent rooms watching the proceedings on TV.

The President at the outset made it clear that remarks attributed to him by the Washington Post regarding women were incorrect. “I never said that. I am not so silly or stupid to make such remarks,” he said.

In his address, President Musharraf pointed out two basic issues – violence against women and gender inequality. He said he considered violence against women to be an abhorrent act. 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.

He said he appreciated the Pakistani press putting issues of rape and violence against women on the front pages so that people in authority could take action.

But he suggested that the focus should shift from individual cases towards formulating policies to protect women. He said he supported NGOs working with dedication towards improving the cause of women.

He said cultural biases feudal-tribal society denied women the rights granted to them by Islam. He called for bringing harmony between Islamic teachings on women rights and prevailing cultural norms.

He said there was a need to address the root causes of discrimination against women to ensure justice for women, gender equality, equal opportunities for women and education for women.

He explained that Pakistan had taken steps to ensure gender equality including political empowerment of women, programmes to assist rural women, a bill against honour killings as well as crisis centres for women who need help.●