President General Pervez Musharraf on Wednesday voiced the government's firm resolve to remedy the malaise of humiliating treatment to women in the society and its commitment to all victims of such offences, including Mukhtaran Mai, in their quest for justice according to law.
He was responding to a number of e-mails addressed to him on his official website - www.presidentofpakistan.gov.pk - about Mukhtaran Mai. The President also made it clear that "Mukhtaran Mai is free to go wherever she pleases, meet whoever she wants and say whatever she pleases."
"I would like to categorically state that she is not under detention, in fact the government has given her all protection and her case is in the court," he said.
Musharraf added that he has full faith in Mukhtaran Mai and in her patriotism.
However, the President pointed out that he took the decision to stop her from going to the US himself in the best national interest as he felt the invitation would have "tarnished Pakistan's international image rather than help in improving the lot of womenfolk in Pakistan or elsewhere in the world."
Continuing, Musharraf believed there was a strong ulterior intent of maligning Pakistan by vested interests, rather than sincerely helping Mukhtaran out. The President regretted that his decision has been misinterpreted. "It has been unfairly assumed that the government is not supportive of Mukhtaran Mai in her quest for justice. These assumptions are absolutely incorrect."
In his reply, the President observed that it would have been appropriate had the organisers of the conference in the USA focused on a holistic approach to discussing violence against cases occurring all over the world with case studies of not just Mukhtaran Mai alone but others also to keep the subject in perspective.
"However, in this case I felt that Pakistan was being singled out without taking into consideration the government's efforts to assist in her ordeal," he asserted.
Musharraf said he has been an ardent advocate of women rights as is evident by policies pursued to that effect during his tenure.