ISLAMABAD: Retired Lt Gen Faiz Ali Chishti, the Patron-in-Chief of the Pakistan Ex-Servicemen Society (PESS), has asked the Defence Ministry to withdraw its statement regarding recognition of the organisation.

`The Ministry of Defence is recommended to cancel its statement referring to the PESS and be respectful to its members,` said Mr Chishti in a statement on Monday.

`The PESS has been functioning since 1980 and registered as a non-governmental organisation since 1991 for the welfare of ex-servicemen of the Army, the Navy, the Air Force, Levies, Rangers and their families,` he said.-Staff Reporter