On Saturday, thousands flocked to his funeral at the National Stadium in Karachi, bidding farewell to a man many deemed to be a “living saint” and “Pakistan’s Mother Teresa”.
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Edhi, a short man with a long white beard who often wore a traditional cap, had been ill for several years after suffering kidney failure, Edhi’s son Faisal told journalists in Karachi.
“My father’s dream was to turn Pakistan into a welfare state and he single-handedly started the Edhi foundation which till today carries on its operations through private donations”, Faisal said. President Mamnoon Hussain prayed to Allah Almighty for salvation of the departed soul and grant his family patience and forbearance.
Not only in Pakistan where the Edhi ambulance service is the largest free network for the needy and poor, philanthropist Edhi received accolades for his work from India, Bosnia, Lebanon and Myanmar as well.
When Karachi was hit by a heat wave that left close to 1,000 people dead, morgues set up by the Edhi Foundation provided a space for dozens of unclaimed bodies of the homeless who had died on the streets because of heat exhaustion. With legendary Edhi sahib passing away not only Pakistan but the world will mourn the loss of a great human being.
Edhi’s son Qutab Meer could not attend the funeral as he is overseas, his son Faisal said, adding that Meer could not reach on time. Khattak said it is very sad that people spreading love are being killed in such a heinous manner.
Born in the western state of Gujarat in British India, Edhi and his Muslim family moved to Pakistan in 1947 during the violent partition of the subcontinent.
Edhi’s funeral prayer was offered at the National Stadium after which he was laid to rest in Edhi Village in a grave that he prepared for himself around 25 years ago.
Praising the efforts of the late philanthropist, he said the Edhi Foundation is the best social organisation in the country and his government would like to support and facilitate it.
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Edhi lived in a bare room in Karachi, alternating between his two suits of black clothes and occasionally listening to recordings of Koranic verses on a battered old tape recorder.
