ISLAMABAD, Sept 18: President Gen Pervez Musharraf denied on Saturday telling the Washington Post that many Pakistanis felt crying rape was an easy way to make money and get a Canadian visa, saying the remark was made by someone else.

The comments, published on Tuesday during Gen Musharraf’s ongoing visit to the United States, sparked outrage in Pakistan.

“Let me say with total sincerity that I never said that and it has been misquoted,” Musharraf said while addressing a gathering of women in New York.

President Musharraf said women had been accorded historic representation in Pakistan right from the union councils to the level of the parliament.

He cited enactments on gender inequality, setting up of a commission for women’s welfare, action plan for women’s uplift, national fund for rural area women, efforts aimed at curbing violence against women, adoption of a bill against gender inequality, and extension of legal aid to violence victims.

“I would not be wrong if I say that in the past six years, we have done more than what has been accomplished during the earlier 52 years,” he said.

He commended the efforts of the Ministry of Women Affairs, particularly in respect of violence against women.

“I stand totally on the side of women in their struggle against violence and gender inequality.”

Amidst applause, the president declared that he was “the strongest supporter of women’s emancipation” and had taken a lead in fighting violence against women in Pakistan.

NILOFAR BAKHTIAR: Prime Minister’s Adviser on Women Development Nilofar Bakhtiar has said that the fate of women in Pakistan is changing due to the government measures taken for their empowerment.