ISLAMABAD, June 7: The Ex-Servicemen Society (ESS) on Saturday sought the judicial trial of President Pervez Musharraf for the Kargil debacle.

They claimed that neither the then air chief nor naval chief and the democratic government had been taken into confidence before launching the Kargil operation by him.

Addressing a press conference here, society members Lt-Gen (retd) Jamshid Gulzar Kayani, Gen (retd) Sallauh Din, Gen (retd) Trimizi, Gen (retd) Islam-u-Din, Brigadier (retd) Khadim Hussian and Brigadier (retd) Mahmood said that Pervez Musharraf had decided to launch the Kargil operation even without the consent of the majority of the commanders.

They termed the interview given by Gen Kiyani about the Kargil crisis as a fact sheet.

Lt-Gen (retd) Saleem said that he had informed Gen Musharraf time and again not to go for the Kargil operation because of its vulnerability on many grounds, but he did not pay any heed to the advice since he had an arrogant nature.

The ex-servicemen held President Musharraf responsible for the ongoing crisis in the country.

They said the society would also support the lawyers’ long march and set up a reception camp at the Liaquat Bagh on June 13.

They emphasised that the ESS would now be part of the civil society in its struggle against perpetrators of the current crisis.