After much outrage in the press (both local and foreign), protests by women’s groups and activists, public criticism by the Canadian Prime Minister, a rape victim, and Pakistan’s leading human rights campaigner, the Saviour of Pakistan has denied saying that some rape victims use their ordeal to get visas to Canada and become millionaires.

Said President Musharraf:

I am not stupid to make such remarks.[1,2]

President Musharraf was originally quoted by the Washington Post as saying:

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. [link]

The denial is somewhat vague. Is President Musharraf:

  1. Suggesting that he never made the above remarks? In which case, is he questioning the integrity of the Washington Post, and is legally entitled to sue the Post’s editors for libel?
  2. Hiding behind five words: A lot of people say?
  3. Lying?

If so, he is one of the following:

  1. The victim of a media conspiracy and is entitled to damages from the Washington Post.
  2. Incredibly insensitive to the plight of rape victims, and needs lessons in media savviness and the English language.
  3. Plain silly and doesn’t understand how the media work. Does he think the Washington Post will be cowed by midnight visits from the Invisible Soldiers Inc.?

I suppose we’ll find out which of the above it is in the coming days. Watch this blog for updates.

Update: President Musharraf continues to deny that he ever made the offending remarks. [Daily Times, Dawn]

Meanwhile, the Washington Post is standing by its story:

In an interview with CNN Saturday, Musharraf said that the remarks were made by someone else in his presence and not him.

The rape comments were not the main focus of the article, published Tuesday, which covered a broad range of topics broached in a 50-minute interview. In the 12th paragraph of the article, The Washington Post quoted Musharraf as saying: “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.”

The interview was conducted by three Washington Post reporters and tape-recorded. A review of the recording Sunday confirmed that Musharraf — who was surrounded by aides who took notes and also recorded the interview — made the remarks and was accurately quoted. [link]

I’m leaning towards a combination of B and C.