Lt-Gen (r) Ali Kuli Khan elected unopposed president of Ex-Servicemen

Mandi Bahauddin(Sher Gondal): Pakistan Ex-Servicemen Society , an organization of retired soldiers got a new president Lt-Gen retired Ali Kuli Khan.

After the death of Lt-Gen Hamid Gul, Brig retired Rauf Malik was doing as officiating president. Gen Ali Kuli was elected uncontested when Lt-Gen retired Amjad Shoaib withdrew his nomination.

Air Marshal retired Shahid Latif was also candidate but his nomination papers were rejected on technical ground. Colonel retired Sajjid, the election commissioner of the society read out Gen retired Amjad Shoaib letter before the members of the National Council PESS who had gathered in Rawalpindi to cast their votes. In letter, Gen Amjad stated that he was withdrawing his nomination in favor of Gen Ali Kuli Khan. Gen Ali thanked ex-servicemen for electing him president PESS.

He vowed to work for promoting their welfare. He said it was desire of Gen Hamid Gul that Pakistan Ex-Servicemen Association (PESA) and PESS should merge as one organization and that he would fulfill his desire as all ex-servicemen desire the same. Gen Ali Kuli belongs to military family. During service he held important command and staff appointments.

During 1995, when doing as Director General Military Intelligence, he exposed coup d’état attempt in which Gen Zahir Abbasi tried to overthrow the then government. He resigned in 1998 when Gen Musharraf, junior to him was promoted and made COAS.

In 2007, Gen Ali Kuli joined and led ex-servicemen when they expressed solidarity and participated in lawyers’ movement for restoration of expelled judges of SC. Thereafter he founded Pesa, another ex-servicemen welfare organization and since then he has been its president Pesa. He said he is a patriotic soldier and defense forces are his life; he was aware of problems of former soldiers and with their cooperation he would endeavor to resolve them.

Election proceedings ended with prayer for prosperity and stability of the country.