Musharraf’s son defends his dad in cyberspace

Islamabad: President Pervez Musharraf’s son Bilal and rock band Junoon’s guitarist Salman Ahmed, who till recently were good pals, are now clashing in cyberspace over the imposition of emergency in Pakistan.
Ahmed, who was a supporter of Musharraf’s policies especially his stand against terrorism and his vision of “enlightened moderation”, has been prolific on the cyberspace, calling the President a “dictator” and “Pharaoh”, since the imposition of emergency on November 3.

This provoked an angry response from Bilal. In his letters, which have now been taken off most websites, Bilal has accused Ahmed who he says was a close friend and a spiritual guide of sorts since 1998 — of indulging in “venomous rhetoric” against his father.

“If Salman feels the need to neutralise the burden of prior public contact with my father with his venomous rhetoric, I find it not just unjust but truly unfair. Looking back today, I am unable to decide whether his motivation for prior public overtures towards my father were selfless or selfish in nature,” Bilal wrote.

In his response, New York-based Ahmed wrote that despite their close friendship, “My support for your father’s government was never meant to be taken as a blank cheque for the state machinery to run amok.” Bilal also said Ahmed’s association with Musharraf was part of a “marketing strategy” by the rock musician.

Noting that “rock musicians don’t usually like hanging out with military dictators”, Ahmed wrote: “I wrote many candid e-mails to you in August and September of this year, sharing my concern about your father’s policies and his government’s high-handed tactics.

“You responded by saying I was too harsh to which I reminded you that true friends are not meant to be mistaken for sycophants and cronies but are a true barometer of the public’s perception.

The open letters have generated a great deal of debate in cyberspace, with many accusing Bilal of “attacking” Ahmed.

Source: mumbaimirror.com