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Pakistani PM announces national mourning for philanthropist

Xinhua, July 9, 2016 Adjust font size:

Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif announced a national mourning on Saturday for the country's most respected philanthropist, Abdul Sattar Edhi, who passed away at the age of 92 at a hospital in Karachi late Friday.

National Flags are lowered at half-mast across the country and people are paying tributes to Edhi, who had served hundreds of thousands of needy people and orphans in his life. He had donated his eyes and they were removed after his death according to his will, his son, Faisal Edhi, said. He will be buried in his cloth.

He was put on a ventilator after deterioration of his health on Friday, his son said. He was suffering from kidney failure, high blood pressure and diabetes.

Edhi's funeral will be offered at the Karachi's National Cricket Stadium in the afternoon. The prime minister has also approved a state funeral for Edhi, who was once nominated by Pakistan for Nobel Prize.

Nawaz Sharif also announced award of Pakistan's highest civil award "Nishan-e-Imtiaz" post-humously for his unprecedented services for humanity.

"This is not only a loss for Pakistan, but a tragedy that has made waves internationally, and rightly so. He was a humanitarian and a man of the people till his very last breath, and we cannot thank him enough for being a guiding light towards empathy in a nation divided," the prime minister said in his condolence message.

All provincial governments have also announced three-day morning to pay homage to the great social worker, who had never any political ambitions and served the people without any discrimination of religion, colour and cast.

Traders in Karachi have announced they would shut their business on Saturday in respect of Edhi. The local authorities are making preparations for the funeral and burial.

A large number of people are visiting Edhi Home to pay respect to the man, who had earned respect and support in Pakistan and abroad. The government and political leaders have issued condolence messages and showed sympathies with the bereaved families.

In his last days, Edhi rejected offer by the government to get treatment abroad and preferred to be treated in the country. Endit