Remembering Edhi: Lahore lawyers to observe a day of mourning

Teachers’ union asks government to add chapters on Edhi’s life and works in national curriculum

LAHORE: Lahore High Court Chief Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah on Saturday paid tribute to Abdul Sattar Edhi.

In his message the chief justice said that no words were enough to pay homage to a man of Edhi’s stature. He said the best way to honour his legacy was to learn to serve the ordinary people unconditionally.

The chief justice also offered condolences to the bereaved family. He said Edhi’s untiring and selfless devotion to end the suffering of ordinary people was praiseworthy.

Meanwhile, the lawyers announced a day of mourning on Monday. The Lahore High Court Bar Association and the Lahore Bar Association also announced plans to offer funeral prayers in absentia for the deceased on Monday.

The Punjab Teachers’ Union (PTU) on Saturday urged the government to introduce chapters on the life and work of Abdul Sattar Edhi in the national curriculum.

The PTU said this would ensure that the younger generations remember and learn from his services for humanity.

It said that the whole nation had been saddened by the news of Edhi’s death. It said that the PTU stood with the bereaved family in their hour of grief.

A press statement by the All Pakistan Workers’ Confederation said that working people of the country were grieved to hear the news of Edhi’s death. It paid tribute to the deceased for dedicating his life to work for the welfare of the poor and downtrodden.

A resolution passed at a special meeting of trade union representatives urged the working people to follow in Edhi’s footsteps and to continue his mission to serve the people regardless of differences of race, colour or creed.

The National Commission for Peace and Justice, an organisation of Catholic Bishops’ Conference, said in a statement that Edhi had dedicated his life to work for the welfare of the poor and the marginalised communities. It said the ambulance service run by the Edhi Foundation was the largest in the country. It said whenever there was an emergency situation Edhi Foundation was always on the forefront of rescue and relief efforts.

The NCJP extended its condolences to the bereaved family and urged the government to provide all-out assistance to Edhi Foundation to ensure that its operations continued unhindered.

A Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry press release said that Edhi’s death was a huge loss for the nation. It said that Edhi’s philanthropic ventures had brought international recognition for the country.

Lahore Arts Council Executive Director Capt (r) Atta Muhammad Khan expressed grief over the news of Edhi’s death. He said he had been a member of the Edhi Foundation since 1997 and was proud of his association with it.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 10^th, 2016.