MANDI BAHAUDDIN-The Pakistan Ex-Servicemen Society (PESS) elected its new office bearers in a meeting held at Rawalpindi. Lt-Gen (r) Faiz Ali Chishti was elected as PESS Pattern in Chief, Lt-Gen (r) Amjad Shoaib as President, Maj-Gen (r) Javed Aslam Tahir as senior vice president and Maj-Gen (r) Ijaz Hussain Awan as vice president.
After completion of elections, the new office-bearers addressed the meeting and vowed to use their all capabilities to organise ex-servicemen at a grassroots level and ensure their welfare.
Amjad briefly touched upon external threats to the country and poor performance of national institutions to tackle the new emerging challenges. He said not only the ex-servicemen were members of PESS but also their family members were also part and parcel of the organisation. He said armed forces' performance in fighting terrorism and anti-social elements was exemplary and they were backing and supporting public, He said ex-servicemen's PESS would play a positive role in the development of the country as they were more disciplined and law-abiding citizens.
He said ex-servicemen were part of armed forces and they stook with their serving brethren. Its district presidents from Punjab, KPK and Sindh also spoke on the occasion. They said there was a dire need to make armed services board more active to resolve ex-servicemen and their widows' problems relating to their welfare.
They said several districts were without district armed services boards (DASBs). Defense Ministry should be reminded to establish DASBs in these districts, they demanded. Fauji Foundation should also be asked to extend education and health facilities in remote areas keeping in view the strength of former and serving soldiers in such areas, they said.
Fauji Foundation should equip medical centres with modern facilities like x-ray machine, blood testing lab and ultra-sound machine, they demanded. Meanwhile, Abdullah Gul, son of late Gen Hamid Gul, emerged on the stage and enumerated his father's services to the PESS when he was its president. He also desired to seek membership of the society.
The house unanimously passed a resolution to grant him membership of PESS Executive Council. Abdullah thanked the house and offered his one Kanal house for PESS office till PESS arranged its permanent office. Election Committee headed by Col (r) Sajid conducted elections proceedings while overall arrangements for the event were made by former acting president PESS Brig (r) Abdul Raouf Malak.