RAWALPINDI: Pakistan Ex-servicemen Association (PESA) has demanded the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government to go for fresh elections to ascertain its popularity among the people.

The demand came in a meeting of its executive council held on Saturday with retired Lt-Gen Ali Kuli Khan in the chair but the decisions were announced on Monday by its general secretary retired Brigadier Masudul Hassan.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif during his last tenure preferred Pervez Musharraf over Ali Kuli Khan who heads PESA while appointing the former as chief of army staff. Ali Kuli Khan joined PTI in March 2012.

Another PTI leader retired Brig Samson Simon Sharaf was also member of the executive council of the PESA.

“PESA members applaud the courage and perseverance of men, women and children sitting in front of the Parliament House in the hope of change for the better. They are not alone in their struggle,”said PESA General Secretary retired Brigadier Masudul Hassan in his statement.

Members are strongly of the view that status quo cannot continue any longer.

The government must go for fresh elections under Article 58 (1) of the Constitution.

That will be a more democratic way for the ruling party to re-assert its authority and prove popularity among the people to continue with its rule, he said.

“It is being alleged that quite a number of government leaders are still running and looking after their private businesses also. Some are doing in the name of their spouses. Such activity must stop and strict laws be enacted to prevent conflict of interests with a view to ensuring unbiased governance,” he said.

Members expressed sorrow over loss of lives and property in floods and expressed the hope that the government would live up to its promises to resettle the affected people.

At the same time, members condemned various government departments’ failures in giving timely flood warnings to the people.

Relief efforts also appear to be in total disarray.

Hilal-e-Ahmar (Red Crescent) should have been in the forefront of relief work and medical support but has not been seen anywhere. The biggest culprit is the department responsible for repairs and maintenance of flood protection bunds.

While talking to Dawn, PESA General Secretary retired Brigadier Masudul Hassan said that the association was talking about the popular sentiments of the people which were visible in the anti-government rallies and sit-ins.

“We didn’t support any party or group as an association but it is the moral duty of the government to go for fresh mandate and prove its popularity,” he said.

Replying to a question, he said: “It is not compulsory to complete the term and in democratic societies, the government accept the popular sentiments.”

Published in Dawn, September 30th, 2014