PESS is the only organization that truly represents ex-servicemen : Major General (retired) Haroon Pasha

Mandi Bahauddin(Sher Gondal): Major General (retired) Haroon Pasha has said Pakistan Ex-Servicemen Society (PESS) is the only organization in the country that truly represents ex-servicemen from all ranks and services.

He was addressing a gathering of ex-servicemen at Chak 22, a suburban village of Malakwal, where ex-servicemen had come to attend marriage of his son Dr. Saad Haroon Pasha.

He said it includes in its membership officers, JCOs, NCOs and other ranks and it has roots in every district across the country. Since its foundation in 1991 it has been working to organize former soldiers on its platform with an aim to promote welfare of ex-soldiers and their widows and in this respect it has achieved great success.

Other organizations like veteran Association and Pakistan Ex-Servicemen Association comprised few retired general officers based at Lahore and Islamabad and their activities were limited to making press statements at tea parties in drawing rooms or services clubs, he said. Ex-servicemen welfare was not on their agenda, he added. He said these small organizations should merge in PESS to enhance its strength to fight for rights of ex-servicemen.

He praised Mandi Bahauddin ex-servicemen for uniting at PESS platform and cooperating and supporting each other in resolving their social problems at district and Tehsil level. He said in first week of April ex-servicemen convention would be held at Malakwal to high light common problems faced by former soldiers and their widows including “one rank one pension” and establishment of DASB in this district. When asked what ex-servicemen can do for Gen Musharraf, he said to his belief whatever Gen Musharraf did it was in good faith and time would soon unveil true facts about his innocence.

Our sympathies are with him, he added. Prominent in ex-servicemen gathering included Brig (retd) Raja Khursheed Ahmed, Major (retd) Sher Muhammad Gondal, Capt Mahboob Shah, Sub Muhammad Din, Sub Maj Muhammad Bashir and Mukhtar Virk.