Inadvertent mistake: FO faux pas on Edhi’s demise rumours

Statement was based on wrong information passed to Foreign Office: rejoinder

In a major faux pas, the Foreign Office issued a condolence message on the demise of Abdul Sattar Edhi when the renowned philanthropist was only taken to hospital for a routine dialysis. The FO later apologised for the error and retracted the statement.

“We are withdrawing the press release, which was based on wrong information passed on to this office. The inconvenience is regretted,” the statement read.

The earlier FO release titled ‘Sattar Edhi – a soul who lived for others’ paid tributes to Edhi on behalf of Prime Minister’s Adviser on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz.

“Today, with the sad demise of legendary philanthropist Maulana Abdul Sattar Edhi, everyone in Pakistan, Pakistanis abroad and millions of others, are in mourning,” the veteran politician was quoted as saying.

“We are deeply saddened to lose an ambassador of Pakistan, whose work in Pakistan and abroad has projected the country’s true image and was a matter of great pride for all of us,” the statement added.

The foreign affairs adviser even offered his condolences to the supposedly bereaved family. While refuting the rumours of Edhi’s death, his son Faisal Edhi told a private news channel that his father was feeling better after being taken to hospital for his routine dialysis.

Pakistanis around the world have expressed concern over the deteriorating health of the elderly philanthropist.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 19^th, 2016.