The Pakistan Ex-servicemen Association (PESA) feels that the situation in Balochistan will turn around for the better and the new government will take steps to infuse hope in the nation, PESA General Secretary Syed Masoodul Hassan told Business Recorder on Thursday.
"It is great blessings of Almighty Allah that for the first time in the history of the country constitutionally elected governments at the Federal and provincial levels have successfully changed hands," the PESA members observed in a meeting chaired by Lieutenant General Ali Kuli Khan (Retd). Retired Vice Admiral Ahmad Tasnim, retired Air Marshal Masood Akhtar, retired Lieutenant General Naeem Akbar, former ambassador Salim Nawaz Gandapur, retired Brigadier Mian Mahmud, retired Brigadier Syed Masud-ul-Hassan and others were also present on the occasion.
They said the nation was faced with a sinking economy, power shortages, corruption coupled with failure of some of the prestigious state institutions, extreme poverty and serious threats to sovereignty of the country. Former military leaders hoped that the new government would take appropriate steps to control downward slide of the economy and country by taking short-term, medium-term and long-term measures while observing strict austerity.
They added that by and large the elections were held in a peaceful environment but those had left behind a question mark about their fairness as almost all political parties were complaining about foul play. The main reason for this situation is antiquated method of voting that creates opportunities for dishonesty. Even the thumb impressions taken by polling staff were of no consequence as no arrangements were in place to check their authenticity.
PESA recommended that the Election Commission must switch over to system of electronic voting. A number of systems are already available in the country for quick evaluation. "It is also unfortunate that ECP has neither implemented Supreme Court's orders of June 8, 2012 nor it ordered regarding voting by millions of Pakistanis working abroad. It was hoped that those orders would be implemented without further delay, PESA added.
As regards policy on National Security, PESA has already prepared a working document that can be used as a basis for initiating a national debate on our national values and vital interests that can lead to finalising a nationally accepted policy, it concluded.