Ex-servicemen demand DASB and implementation of “One rank and one pension”

Mandi Bahauddin(Sher Gondal): In a meeting held here on Friday in Committee Bagh under arrangement Pakistan Ex-Servicemen Society, ex-servicemen, widows and heirs of Shaheeds have appealed to Supreme Commander Armed Forces President of Pakistan Mamnoon Hussain, Defense Minister Khawaja Asif, Chairman Joint Chiefs Staff Committee for enforcing “one rank one pension” policy to save them from financial hardships in their old age.

Addressing the meeting old veterans vented out their anger over apathy of government towards welfare of former soldiers. They said that there were more than thirty one thousands ex-servicemen including widows and to attend their problems relating to pension other welfare matters there is no DASB in this district. They said they have to make trips of DASB Gujrat for redress of their problems. They said Mandi Bahauddin was upgraded to district in 1993 and since then they have been approaching concerned authorities for setting up DASB in Mandi Bahauddin but their requests were not responded. Similarly they took up the case of “one rank pension” with Federal Shariat Court in 1991.

The court decided the case in their favor but the government did not implement it. They demanded posting of secretary and other authorized staff to Mandi Bahauddin to establish DASB. They said DCO Mandi Bahauddin Muzaffar Sial had very kindly provided two rooms in TMA building for DASB Camp Office. Speakers included Honorary Captain Lal Khan Sahi, Subedar Zaman Ranjha, and Master Warrant Officer Muhammad Akram.

Chief Petty Officer Muhammad Aslam. Meeting also resolved unanimously that in case their demands were not met the ex-servicemen would hold protest on 6 Nov, the next month and this protest would continue on weekly bases till fulfill of their demands.

At the end Capt Aslam (honorary) got up and referred to Senate resolution passed recently to increase pension of civil pensioners corresponding to increasing price hike. There was no mention of military pensioners in that resolution, he added and said this was a step motherly treatment towards ex soldiers who spent their youth in performing defense duties.