‘Children at Edhi orphanage orphaned again’

Volunteers at Edhi Foundation say they have lost a father figure

KARACHI: A blank expression strikes the faces of volunteers as Abdul Sattar Edhi is lowered into a grave he chose for himself 25 years ago. They have just said their final goodbye to the man who was to them much more than their father. Today, they have been orphaned.

Broken but still managing to console each other, Edhi Foundation volunteers sat in groups after the burial.



“How can we avoid crying when someone who was more than a father to us has left this world,” says ambulance driver Muhammad Kashif, as he steps back after hugging one of his colleagues.

“He taught us how to serve humanity, his advices and directions will remain in my heart forever. Edhi sahib will be proud of us when we meet him on Judgment Day.”

Recalling Edhi’s leadership qualities, rescue worker Asad Jahangir remembers how the philanthropist ordered all of them to stay back and went ahead himself when the rumour of a bomb was spread at the Jinnah hospital after the Ashura blast in December 2009.

“He was always there to protect us and guide us,” Jahangir said. “Our job is tough but Edhi sahib has set the principles on how to serve humanity keeping aside cast and creed.”

Another rescue worker Faizan Adil, who has been working at the Edhi Foundation for 20 years, recalls how Edhi always took charge when the volunteers were unable to deal with mutilated or decomposed corpses. “We have seen Edhi sahib cleaning open wounds of leprosy patients. Who could have done that except Edhi himself?”



At the Edhi Village – a 200-acre piece of land housing an orphanage, old-age home, women shelter and a drug rehab, a pall of gloom has descended since its residents came to know about the death of their messiah, who used to light up their lives with his pleasant smile and mystical personality.

Kamran, the eldest at the orphanage, sits on the side of a long corridor staring outside through the iron grille. ‘Amir ki Ammi’ sits on a chair in the centre of the corridor, wiping off tears rolling down her cheeks. A few kids sitting a bit further pray for Edhi.

No one knows the real name of ‘Amir ki Ammi’ as she is speech-impaired. She came to the Edhi centre about 10 years ago with her child named Amir, who now is a volunteer at the Edhi Foundation. She gestured to one of the teachers at the orphanage, Nasreen, she will leave as Edhi sahib is no more.

Kamran was brought to the Edhi Village 16 years ago. Grieved by the death of Edhi, Nasreen said the boy had not spoken to anyone since the moment he heard the tragic news.

Nasreen then recalls the last visit of Edhi to the shelter in an ambulance six months ago. “He was unable to walk but his love for the children brought him all the way to the village,” she said with a smile on her face.



The kitchen in-charge, Mobeena Anjum who has been working for 17 years, said when the staff asked Edhi to rest at home, he responded that he had come to see his children. Initially, she recalled, Edhi used to come to the orphanage daily and when his health deteriorated he started coming on Sundays.

Nasreen said the children have been glued to the TV, curious to know about Edhi’s burial. “The children used to call him ‘Baba’,” she added.

Anjum said the entire staff used to call Edhi ‘Abu’. “The children at the orphanage have become orphans for the second time,” she said. “Today, the tree under which we felt safe has been removed.”

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