Pakistani philanthropist Abdul Sattar Edhi, revered as a “living saint”, was buried on the outskirts of Karachi on Saturday after a state funeral attended by thousands.
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Edhi’s most iconic work is an empty cradle that rests outside the charity’s headquarters, where unwanted children can be anonymously handed over to the foundation’s orphanages.
The last time Pakistan held a state funeral was for military dictator General Zia ul-Haq in 1988.
Born in 1928, Edhi initially set up a dispensary in the city of Karachi, where he had arrived as a refugee with family after the partition of India and Pakistan. He said Edhi was the figure who had unflinching sympathy for humanity. The Prime Minister said though he wished to attend late Edhi’s funeral in person, however his present position deprives him of the ability to do so.
While Pakistan mourns the death of national icon Abdul Sattar Edhi, a journalist made a decision to go to extreme lengths to cover the story of the passing – and got right into the humanitarian’s grave, according to a viral tweet.
Pakistan’s cricket team, which is on tour in England, wore black armbands during their match against the Somerset county team to mourn Edhi’s death. He was a protuberant Pakistani philanthropist, social activist and humanitarian.
“His funeral prayers will be offered at the National Stadium in, Karachi after Zuhr prayers”.
“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.
Edhi spent much of his remaining childhood caring for her, even though she later developed mental health issues. The speakers said that Edhi’s death had created a vacuum which could never be filled. “If more people thought that way, so many problems could be solved”.
Edhi had also donated his organs but due to continuous medical treatment, only his corneas could be harvested.
TOBA TEK SINGH: Speakers at a seminar paid rich tributes to Abdul Sattar Edhi for his services for humanity.
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A number of people including Pakistani political leaders and celebrities took to Twitter to express grief over Edhi’s demise.
