Syed Mussarat Khalil
Saudi Gazette
JEDDAH — Pakistan Journalist forum (PJF) held a condolence meeting to pay homage to Pakistan’s legendary philanthropist Abdul Sattar Edhi, at Kababish restaurant on Saturday.
The meeting was chaired by renowned intellectual, senior journalist and director censor board of Geo TV network Arif ul Haq Arif, who is visiting the Kingdom.
Shahid Naeem, president PJF, opened the session and elaborated on Edhi's services to humanity. He said everyone should learn from Edhi's volunteer services.
“He was an ideal patriot and a servant of humanity. Though he is no more with us, his legacy will live on and be an example for all of us in serving humanity,” Naeem added.
Arif , who was in Saudi Arabia to perform Umrah and visit the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah, expressed his deep sorrow over the death Abdul Sattar Edhi and prayed that may Allah give his soul the highest place in paradise and accept all his charity and humanitarian works.
He said people all over the world had trusted Edhi to a remarkable level. They gave their charities to Edhi blindly and also consulted him on many other humanitarian issues.
He devoted his life for the poor and the destitute people of Pakistan and his loss is irreparable. He is really Pakistan's angel of mercy, said Arif.
Other PJF members included Amir Mohammed Khan, chairman, Jameel Rathore, Syed Absar, Shahzad Azam, Mustafa Aziz Siddiqui, Mohammed Amil Usmani, Liaqat Anjum, Asad Akram and Mujeebul ul Hassan and they highlighted Edhi's lifetime contribution and praised his welfare services not only for the people of Pakistan but also in the other countries.
Edhi belonged to a poor family and remained a quiet and modest man all his life. Born in 1928 in a small village of Bantva near Junagadh in Gujarat district. Edhi was deeply affected by the death of his mother when he was 19. He never finished school but later said the world of suffering became his tutor.
Edhi, 88, died late on Friday at a medical center after a long battle with kidney disease. His death triggered a massive outpouring of grief across the nation of 190 million for a man who transcended social, ethnic and religious divisions.
Tens of thousands attended Saturday's ceremony, the first state funeral since the 1980s, at Karachi's National Stadium.
