Ex-servicemen's body disavows patron-in-chief.

ISLAMABAD -- Pakistan Ex-SerAvicemen Society (PESS) on Tuesday disassociated itself from the presser by its patron-in-chief Lt Gen (retd) Faiz Ali Chisti on the debate regarding the appointment of the new army chief and growing political polarisation in the country.

'Press Conference of Lt Gen Faiz Ali Chishti, Patron-in-Chief PakisAtan Ex-Servicemen Society-PESS, was conducted in his personal caAApacity. Unfortunately Gen Chishti represented PESS without any approval/discussion/knowledAAge of Central Working Committee for his agenda,' PESS said in a statement, adding that it did not approve of it.

The statement emphasised that the absence of PESS officials shoAwAAed that the presser had been wronAgly attributed to the veterans' body.

PESS became mired in a controversy last September when the Ministry of Defence, in an unusual statement, challenged the body's claim of representing the retired servicemen saying it had not been authorised to do so. The ministry's move had then come in the midst of criticism of army's current leadership by retired military officers.

Gen Chisti had on that occasion called for withdrawal of the defence ministry's statement.

At his presser at the National Press Club, the retired general seemed to be lending support to the army at a time when its impending change of command is being politicised. He cautioned against making the appointment of army chief controversial. 'I've seen Pakistan...