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Rediff.com  » News » Musharraf nailed on lie in book

Musharraf nailed on lie in book

By Aziz Haniffa in Washington, DC
September 27, 2006 09:44 IST
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Pakistan's President Pervez Musharraf has acknowledged that he has to revise the contention in his book that the CIA paid prize money to the Government of Pakistan for their cooperation in fighting the global war on terror against the al Qaeda.

During an interview with CNN's Wolf Blitzer, the network's anchor referred to Musharraf's argument in The Line of Fire,  that 'those who habitually accuse us of not going enough in the war on terror, should simply ask the CIA how much prize money it has paid to the Government of Pakistan?'

Blitzer said the CIA had refused comment on this assertion, but former senior intelligence officials had said no such prize money was paid and that the CIA only give rewards to individuals who help bring high-value terrorists to justice.

Musharraf tried to wriggle out of this corner by saying, "I don't know whether this is to the Government of Pakistan…I don't think I wrote to the Government of Pakistan."

But Blitzer nailed him, saying, it was right there on page 237 that the money was 'paid to the government,' and offered Musharraf an out, asking "You want to revise that?"

Caught off guard, an embarrassed Musharraf responded, "Yes. I think if it is written Government of Pakistan, yes."

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Aziz Haniffa in Washington, DC