Edhi undergoes successful surgery at SIUT

Edhi was diagnosed with kidney failure in June 2013 and had been on dialysis since then

KARACHI: Social activist and philanthropist Abdul Sattar Edhi underwent on Tuesday a successful surgery at Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation (SIUT), Karachi.

A member of staff at the Edhi Foundation, Humaira Faiz Muhammad, confirms he is well and that his health is in better condition.

"The operation was a success. He is still in the ICU, however, he is fully aware of his whereabouts and is being responsive," Bilquis Edhi confirmed while speaking to The Express Tribune. 

"I told him to open and close his eyes and he did so accordingly. So I think he understood well what I was asking him to do," she added.

Earlier, a member of staff at the Edhi Foundation, Humaira Faiz Muhammad, confirmed he is well and that his health is in better condition. "I just met him a while back. He is doing better and is in his complete senses," she confirmed to The Express Tribune. 

According to Edhi’s spokesperson, Anwar Kazmi: “The operation was supposed to be performed on Monday, however, the doctors were not able to reach on time due to the Youm-e-Ali procession.”



Minutes after the surgery commenced, Bilquis Edhi while speaking with The Express Tribune said "It’s been a while since they took him upstairs to the surgery room of the institute. The best part of the news is he is not running any fever for now and nor is he having any tendency of high blood pressure, at the moment."

She further said, "Edhi sahib became bedridden, once the Edhi office was attacked by thieves, a couple of months back. He was so shaken by the theft that he kept on saying that '“Mera maan torr diya inn honay,”' [They broke my trust and faith in them.] He has been bedridden since."

Explaining his financial challenges which Bilquis believes led to his recent health issues, she said, "He looks at the side cupboard in his room and cries all the time."

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The surgery is expected to last for about 10 to 15 minutes during which the doctors would clear the catheter [a tube which aids the dialysis] as it was reportedly clogged – causing several issues.

“The operation will be 10 to 15 minutes long. Edhi sahib is on dialysis and the line or tract from which the dialysis gets conducted has been chocked, hence they will be operating on it, to make it function properly,” Kazmi said.

Earlier, commenting on Edhi’s health, the spokesperson said: “Although every other part of his body is in a good shape, the poorly functioning kidneys are almost done and over with.”

Kazmi clarified Edhi was performing his routine tasks such as meeting people and having food of his likening. “He is not on any form of restrictive diet from the hospital,” he said.

Edhi declines Zardari’s offer for overseas treatment

Meanwhile, hospital sources said Edhi had been discharged for now and will go under the knife as an out-patient.

Edhi was diagnosed with kidney failure in June 2013 and was told by doctors he would have to be on dialysis for the rest of his life.

Earlier this month, Edhi, declined an offer from former president Asif Ali Zardari to be flown abroad for medical treatment.

PPP Senator Rehman Malik paid a visit to the Edhi Foundation chairman at a hospital in Karachi, where he was on dialysis, on Thursday with Zardari’s proposal, spokesperson Anwar Kazmi told The Express Tribune.

“Let me take you to London or Dubai [for your treatment] if you [would allow me],” said Malik on behalf of Zardari.



Edhi, however, declined the offer, indicating that he preferred to receive treatment in Pakistan.

“I will not leave Pakistan and go anywhere for treatment,” Kazmi quoted Edhi as saying.

“I told him that if he wishes, we will bring an air ambulance and take him abroad to a hospital of his choice. I told him I would also go with him,” the senator told reporters.

“[I told him] ‘God forbid, if your health gets deteriorated we will have to take you abroad’ but he insists on getting treatment at a government hospital in Pakistan.”