ISLAMABAD: People from all walks of life commemorated the first death anniversary of Abdul Sattar Edhi in the capital on Saturday.
People from all segments of the society including politicians, journalists and civil rights activists took part in seminars, walks and lectures held to mark the day.
People also used social media to pay tribute to Edhi, while several politicians issued media statements to mark the day. A private organisation arranged an interactive session for shedding light on the services rendered by Edhi. Social activists, religious scholars, students and journalists took part in the discussion.
Dr Rakhshanda Parveen, the event’s organiser, said that Edhi was an icon of mercy and was considered to be Pakistan’s most respected and legendary figure.
“We as a nation should work like Edhi. He performed in an exceptional way in each sector of life. We should make charity a part of our lives,” she said. A participant, Hassan, said that Edhi was a role model for everyone. “Every person should follow Edhi’s ideology of working for the betterment of humanity,” he said.
Shazia Shaheen said that the country had committed itself to achieving Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). “However, despite the passage of four years, these goals have not been achieved. The reason for this failure is that it is not the government’s priority to replicate the ideas given by Edhi,” she said. Even though the leaderships of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) were engrossed in the Panamagate issue, some of them took out time to pay homage to Edhi. In his tweet, PTI chairman Imran Khan declared the anniversary of Edhi as the ‘National Charity Day’.
Ruling party lawmaker Maiza Hameed said: “I think there is no higher calling in terms of a career, than a chance to make a difference and improve people’s lives in Pakistan.” In her tweet, Hina Butt said: “The irony is that we only appreciate selfless humanitarians like Edhi when they have left us.”
Born in Bantva, Gujarat British India in 1928, Edhi shifted to Karachi in Pakistan. While laying the foundation of his humanitarian career, he took start from the establishment of a free dispensary for Karachi’s low-income locals. He expanded his charitable activities in 1957 when an Asian flu epidemic swept through Karachi. Donations allowed him to buy his first ambulance the same year. He later expanded his charity network with the help of his wife Bilquis Edhi.
According to an estimate, over his lifetime the Edhi Foundation expanded backed entirely with private donations including establishing a network of 1,800 minivan ambulances. By the time of his death, Edhi was registered as a parent or guardian of nearly 20,000 children.
Edhi received several awards including Gandhi Peace Award, UNESCO-Madanjeet, Singh Prize and some other prestigious awards.
Due to his sincere intentions, he has left a lasting impression in the hearts and souls of his nation. The world also remembers him in adorable words. His popularity can be seen from the fact that in 2013 The Huffington Post wrote, “Abdul Sattar Edhi might be the world’s greatest living humanitarian”. On February 28, 2017, Google celebrated Edhi with a ‘doodle’ hailing his “super-efficient” ambulance service. Moreover, almost all major newspapers and TV channels reported his death in previous year. The New York Times reported, “Abdul Sattar Edhi, Pakistan’s ‘Father Teresa,’ Dies at 88”. The Wall Street Journal stated: “Pakistan Mourns the Death of Abdul Sattar Edhi”. Washington Post wrote “Abdul Satttar Edhi, ‘angel of mercy’ in Pakistan, devoted his life to helping the poor and destitute”.
PM praises Edhi: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Saturday called for cultivation of characteristics which were the hallmarks of late Abdul Sattar Edhi’s personality to serve the humanity. In a message on the death anniversary of late Edhi, the prime minister said: “People like him are not only the real assets of a country or nation, but also for the whole humanity.”
“Edhi devoted his life for the service of humanity and never differentiated on the basis of caste, creed or religion. He treated all humans alike and considered serving them as a noble cause,” the prime minister said. “Due to his traits, he is respected throughout the world. People can pay tribute on his anniversary by emulating his qualities to serve the humanity,” he said.
Published in Daily Times, July 9th , 2017