The award was conferred to Abdul Sattar Edhi by then Governor of Sindh Lieutenant General Moinuddin Haider
KARACHI: Abdul Sattar Edhi was a simple and humble man who dedicated his entire life to serving the poor, needy, ailing and homeless children, women and men, wherever and whenever he found them. He was the man who picked up babies from the roadside and from doorsteps, gave refuge to orphans, the destitute, women, children and to the homeless. He was the man who established and operated orphanages, homes, medical clinics for the poor and gave the last bath to dead persons whenever and wherever they were found and arranged for their burial with dignity. He was undoubtedly Pakistan’s most revered figure, a legend, a man who left his permanent footprints in the sands of time.
Luminaries and leaders of all ranks and affiliations flocked to see him during his final days in hospital and also attended his funeral. His farewell from this world was grand and impressive but none of this would have impressed Abdul Sattar Edhi.
Realising the selfless dedication of Edhi sahib to Pakistan and its citizens, the Jinnah Society unanimously chose him for the First Jinnah Award in 1998 and I still recall with pride my first meeting with him in early that year when I went to his office in Karachi to seek his concurrence for acceptance of the Jinnah Award and his agreement to attend a function of Jinnah Society which he very happily did.
The award was conferred to Abdul Sattar Edhi by then Governor of Sindh Lieutenant General Moinuddin Haider on behalf of the members of Jinnah Society. He will always remain alive in our hearts as a person like him is born perhaps only once in a 100 years.
Liaquat H Merchant
President, Jinnah Society
Published in The Express Tribune, July 16th, 2016.
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