PESA supports CJP views on governments TORs

Lahore: The Pakistan Ex-servicemen Association (PESA) on Saturday supported the decision of the Chief Justice of Pakistan to reject appointment of Judicial Commission in accordance with the government’s Terms of Reference (TOR).

The TORs are impracticable and PESA had already requested the CJP recently to take Suo Moto action to separate the issue of Panama Leaks and deal with it on urgent basis, it said.

Winning an election is not a symbol of good and honest leadership. Majority of our voters are either captives of our feudal system or are caught up in ‘bratheri’ loyalty, this was observed in the general body meeting of PESA presided by Gen. Ali Kuli Khan (Retd).

Vice Adm Ahmad Tasnim, Air Marshal Masood Akhtar, Brig Kamran Qazi, Brig Arbi Khan, Brig Mian Mahmud, Brig Masud ul Hassan, Capt Akmal Shah (Navy), Naik Muhammad Fazil and others were also present on the occasion.

The participants observed that despite claims of clean elections, process of disqualifications and bye elections is still going on which is unheard of in other democratic countries. PESA suggested early adoption of biometric identification of voters and electronic voting.

They said that national leaders are expected to be extra clean and most honest. This is not only the requirement of a Muslim State but openness and total honesty form basic requirements of any democratic system.

Our leaders must not hide behind culprits of bygone era; they should come clean and regain confidence of the people. Instead of waiting for the Judicial Commission or linking himself with other presumed offenders, our Prime Minister must take the initiative and explain the sources of income for the assets accumulated by his family and details of the method adopted for transfer of those funds.

These are matters of personal nature not meant to be dealt with by his political party or the government.

Recovery of over rupees seventy crores worth of currency and jewellery from the residence of a middle ranking government official and arrest of more officials appear to be only a tip of the iceberg, particularly when viewed against background of Panama Leaks.

There are unconfirmed reports that certain quarters in the Federal government are suggesting weakening of the Army’s command structure. Members of PESA hope that these are ill founded rumours. At the same time, they are confident that the Army knows how to take care of its professional capabilities.

Members of PESA condemned hanging of Jamaat-e-Islami leader in Bangladesh for alleged war crimes. This issue of so-called war crimes relating to 1971 was settled amicably in the tripartite peace agreement signed in 1974.

It is, however, surprising that our Foreign Office has woken up to lodge protest after the hanging. If our government was serious about the issue, then the matter should have been taken up at OIC and other international forums when the trial was started or first judgment was announced.