Musharraf's claim about US threats boosts his book sale

Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf’s book "In the Line of Fire" has witnessed record advance bookings following his revelations about a purported threat to ''bomb Pakistan to stone age'' by the US.

Amazon.com and Barnes and Noble websites saw record advance booking of the book since Gen Musharraf told the CBS news 60-minute programme that the threat was conveyed by the then deputy secretary of state Richard Armitage to Pakistan’s then intelligence chief Lt-Gen Mahmood Ahmed.

The Dawn today reported that in order to push up sales the Barnes and Noble, the biggest book retailer, is offering 30 per cent discount on the book in the first two weeks of its launch, which will bring the price down to 22 dollar. Amazon.com is also trying to match the price.

President Musharraf was to arrive in New York yesterday afternoon following a quick trip to Texas town of Paris where he was given a full medical check-up.

Information Minister Muhammad Ali Durrani told reporters yesterday that ''the president is fighting fit'', to dispel reports of a ''heart attack''.

He said the check-up was pre-scheduled and was carried out by prominent Pakistan-American specialist Dr Hashmi, who had suggested it.

The book is being launched today in New York at a two hours book signing ceremony at the Council of Foreign Relations with remarks by the President.

The buzz created by the President’s claim on CBS television has propelled interest in the book.

While most American officials, including Mr Armitage, have denied having used such harsh language, Gen Musharraf insists that Gen Mahmoud conveyed the message to him, the Dawn said.

Mr Armitage who met Gen Musharraf in his hotel in Washington insisted that he had never used such language and President Bush who met the general at the White House also expressed surprise at the revelation and asked ''why now after five years and why in New York?'' The exact words President Bush were ''He wants you to buy his book.'' The reaction in Pakistanis is one of shock and horror, as most who were interviewed by the Dawn said even if reports of threat was true, why Gen Musharraf was using this occasion to reveal it.

Many Pakistanis in New York and Washington also questioned President Musharraf’s almost three week long stay in the US, along with a 70 odd member delegation, including 10 federal ministers.

''It could cost the Pakistani exchequer quite a penny only to promote the book by the general,'' one of them said, adding ''Isn’t it misuse of taxpayers’ money?'' ''It is incomprehensible that so much of country’s precious foreign exchange is being squandered'', said another.

Many political pundits and reporters accompanying the President are speculating whether he will reveal some inside information of the Agra Summit with then Indian PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee, which had ended in a fiasco. Going a bit further, will he tell the world all he knows about the al-Qaeda and Osama bin Laden.

The book, purportedly ghost-written, is spread over 368 pages. The covers of the book say it is a detailed story of the life of the President with a first-hand account of the important events which shaped his life.

Originally written in English, the book is also likely to be accompanied by translation in Urdu, a language through which the General plans to reach the masses.

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