Can annuities/pensions from lic claim standard deduction

1. According to sec 16(ia) standard deductions to the extent of Rs. 40,000 (FY 2018-19) will be available for Salary income. Now the question is whether pension and annuity received from LIC will be considered as income from Salary. 
2. CBDT has released a clarification on 05.04.2018 regarding the applicability of standard deduction to the person receiving pension income. It read as "Accordingly, any taxpayer who is in receipt of a pension from his former employer shall be entitled to claim a deduction of Rs 40,000/- or the amount of pension, whichever is less, under Section 16 of the Act" 
3. From the above reading, it is clear that pension income only if it is received from a former employer it can be considered as Salary and standard deduction can be availed. 
4. In your case, since you have received a pension from LIC, there exists no employer-employee relationship hence it cannot be considered as salary income and the standard deduction will not be applicable. The same also applies to the annuity. 
Please correct me if the above interpretation has an alternative view.