Mother of orphans laid to rest

KARACHI:

Bilquis Bano Edhi, leading humanitarian and philanthropist, was laid to rest in the city's oldest graveyard Mewa Shah on Saturday.

She died on Friday after a brief hospitalisation at a private medical institution. She was 74 and the wife of the founder of the Edhi Foundation Abdul Sattar Edhi.

Thousands of citizens, Edhi Foundation workers, area residents, social and political activists, leaders of different political parties and Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, along with his cabinet, attended the funeral.

The funeral prayer of the elderly humanitarian was held at the New Memon Masjid located on MA Jinnah Road near Kharadar.

Bilquis, according to a spokesperson of the Edhi Foundation, was suffering from multiple ailments, including congestive issues, heart problems, lung infection, arthritis and diabetes. Security was beefed up during the funeral prayer and the road from Merewether Tower to Bolton Market was closed for traffic.

The provincial government issued an official obituary for Bilquis Edhi on Friday and also announced a day of mourning on Saturday. Earlier, Shah also visited Faisal Edhi, the son of Bilquis Edhi, and offered condolences to him and other family members. He said that Bilquis Edhi played a great role in supporting the orphan children of the country.

She was also called the mother of orphans and considered one of the main supporters of her husband. Many have credited  her with continuing his mission even after his death. Bilqis was one of the most active philanthropists in the country and co-chaired the Edhi Foundation with her son Faisal after her husband's passing in 2016.

She was born in Bantwa, India, and migrated to Pakistan after partition. Together with her husband, their charity has saved thousands of unwanted babies.

CM pays tribute

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah attended the funeral prayer of social worker and philanthropist Bilquis Edhi, along with his cabinet members.

The provincial government on Friday issued an official obituary on the said demise of Bilquis Edhi. The government issued a notification which reads; "Government of Sindh shares the grief and expresses its heartfelt condolences on the said demise of the most active philanthropist and co-chair of Edhi Foundation, Mrs Bilquis Ban Edhi, widow of renowned philanthropist Mr Abdul Sattar Edhi (Late)."

The Sindh government issued another notification to announce one day's mourning on 16' April, 2022, throughout the province of Sindh. The chief minister visited the Edhi Center when the body of Bilquis Edhi was shifted there and offered condolences to her son Faisal Edhi.

Sindh Chief Minister, paying rich tribute to Bilquis Edhi, said that her services for humanity would be written in golden words in the annals of history. "She played a motherly role in nurturing unwanted babies, shelterless women and children. May Allah rest her soul in eternal peace," he prayed.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, April 17^th, 2022.