RAWALPINDI: Pakistan Ex-Servicemen Society (PESS) has elected Lt Gen Faiz Ali Chishti as its patron-in-chief, Lt Gen Amjad Shoaib as president, Maj Gen Javed Aslam Tahir as senior vice president and Maj Gen Ijaz Hussain Awan as vice president.
The election of the new office bearers of PESS was finalised during a meeting held at Flashman Hotel, Rawalpindi on Monday.
Addressing the ceremony, the newly elected PESS office bearers vowed to use all their capabilities to organise ex-servicemen at grass root level and promote their welfare.
Lt Gen Amjad briefly touched upon external threats to the country and poor performance of national institutions to tackle with new emerging challenges.
He said that ex-servicemen were not the only members of PESS as even their family members are part and parcel of this organisation. He added that the armed forces’ performance in fighting terrorism and anti-social elements is exemplary and they have the backing and support of the public.
He further said that the ex-servicemen organised on PESS’ platform would play a positive role in the development of the country as they are more disciplined and law-abiding citizens.
District presidents from Punjab, KP and Sindh also spoke on the occasion. They said that there was a dire need to make the armed services board more active to resolve ex-servicemen and their widows’ problems relating to their welfare.
They also said that several districts were without district armed services boards and the defence ministry should be reminded to establish DASB in these districts.
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. It should also equip medical centres with modern equipment’s to improve their service delivery, they demanded.
Meanwhile, Abdullah Gul, son of late Gen Hamid Gul, came to the stage and enumerated his father’s services to the society when he was its president, and desired to seek membership of the society.
The meeting unanimously passed a resolution to grant him membership of PESS executive council. Abdullah thanked the house and offered his house for PESS office till PESS arranges its permanent office.
The election committee, headed by Col Sajid, conducted election proceedings while the overall arrangements for the event were made by PESS former acting president Brig Abdul Rauf Malik.
