Mr Ahmad Mukhtar, Minister of Defense, has reportedly said that President Pervez Musharraf is an asset and a saleable commodity that can be used for bringing money into Pakistan. It is preposterous to define the President as an asset. As far as the money part is concerned, the world has described Pakistan as a retriever dog used for apprehending the wanted men. The defense minister's remarks leave a bad taste in the mouth of the civil society of Pakistan. -DR M. YAQOOB BHATTI, Lahore Cantt., via e-mail, April 4.