16 April 2005
Revive classical & pop music: Musharraf
- By PTI
Islamabad, May 15: In a sharp contrast to former military ruler Zia-ul Haq's discouragement of music and films, Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf says arts, music and culture are important to project "soft face" of the country to the world in changing times.
"There is conflict in our minds. On one side we award pride of performance to artists and on the other hand we treat them with bias," President Musharraf said in an interview to the local daily the News published on Saturday.
"From the mid 70s to 90s there was a period when art was rejected. Musically we saw a period when songs were banned. We did not want to have music in any place and we want to come back to the centre," he said, adding "extremists held sway and they pushed the soft face, the art face of Pakistan into background calling it un-Islamic where as it is not."
Focussing his thoughts on reviving music, which he believes was very important to project the "soft face" of Pakistan to the world, the President said "I think there is some abnormality in a person who does not like music. Some people like classical and dislike pop, but I do not think like that at all.
"Pop is very different very good. I can be part of any fun with youngsters with pop and enjoy classical music with my generation."
Reacting to a question expressing amazement over his taste to enjoy Pakistani pop music, which has created uproar in a section of society, he shot back saying "I am amazed, aren't heads of state normal human beings?"
"I love music. I find it very relaxing. I have the habit of listening to it while working. I find that I work better if some music is going on," President Musharraf said.
He said he was trying to revive the classical music but at the same time Pakistan should not discourage pop. "We should not discourage pop, but we should encourage classical music, which is on the wane."
"Our classical singers and pop singers are the best in the subcontinent. I also think Urdu is extraordinary. The expression of Urdu poetry cannot be matched by any other language," President Musharraf said.
On Pakistani movies, he said because of their "poor quality" the best were not entering the film industry and instead opting for television.
"Film makers need to come forward to produce better quality films, which will draw in better people from better families," he said.