Self-Titled Hero

The book has also goaded the Opposition into slamming Musharraf for disclosing state secrets, and spending public money on the launch of his book. The Opposition has demanded a special session of Parliament to discuss these contentious issues. A statement issued on behalf of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif says Musharraf seems to have decided to make some money now that he realises his political demise is near. "The book is nothing more than a pack of lies aimed at rewriting history. The general has lied about the Kargil disaster and the 'illegal coup' he mounted to overthrow an elected government," the statement says.

Adds Farhatullah Babar, the spokesman for former premier Benazir Bhutto: "The Musharraf Memoir has set a new and dangerous precedent for the chiefs of air force and navy to record their memoirs while in service and then take official jets to set out on tour to Europe and America on promotional campaigns. Gen Musharraf's visit to the US was less for promoting national interests and more for boosting the book's sale."

Chairperson of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, Asma Jahangir, minces no words either: "In disclosing state secrets in his book Musharraf has violated the President's oath that binds the incumbent of the office to keep the affairs of state secret." But then, you could well ask, since when has Musharraf ever bothered about constitutional propriety.