Pakistan does little about rape, activists say

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http://www.suntimes.com/output/news/cst-nws-rape25.html

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan -- Leader in the war on terror, survivor of al-Qaida assassination attempts, advocate of moderate Islam: Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf has emerged as a darling of the West since the Sept. 11 attacks.

He has won little praise, however, for his response to another blight facing his country: rape and other violence against women.

Hundreds of attacks -- including gang rapes, "honor killings" of wives accused of having affairs and brides murdered for marrying without family consent -- are reported each year. Most go unpunished. snip

'Insensitive' comments

Last week, Musharraf returned from a U.S. visit marred by controversy over his reportedly telling the Washington Post that many Pakistanis see rape allegations as a way for women to make money and get visas to leave the country. He later denied saying that, but the newspaper said the recorded interview proved he was correctly quoted.