Abdul Sattar Edhi was an icon for Pakistanis and his death has definitely left a big void in the hearts of many. Unfortunately the treatment that his family is receiving after his death is a sad depiction of how fickle our society is.
The wife and son of late Abdul Sattar sahab, Bilquis and Faisal Edhi, addressed a press conference on Wednesday where they urged the government to help them out because they said land mafias are illegally taking over the land of the Edhi Foundation.
According to them, this is happening in several towns of Sindh and other cities of Pakistan. A recent land grabbing activity has happened in one of the oldest Edhi Centres in Pakistan, in Thatta. The Centre in Thatta was established in 1985 and has been taken over by the mafia.
The Edhi Foundation, Bilquis and Faisal alleged, are being forced to vacate the properties that they legally occupied. And it is not just limited to land grabbing, the illegal mafias are also threatening the workers of attack.
Bilquis Edhi pleaded to the Sindh and Balochistan governments to be vigilant in the matter before the efforts of late Abdul Sattar Edhi go to waste.
The Land-grabbing mafia have full patronage of some political parties to carry on these illegal activities and they said that the mafia is opening shops on their land or using it for other commercial activity.
She even went ahead to threaten to shut down the ambulance service if no action is taken to fix the situation
Shocking: Edhi sb family threatens to close down ambulance service due to qabza mafia. Govt must protect legendary work of our only messiah pic.twitter.com/US1cX1AHpU
— Atif Mateen (@AtifMateen2) October 25, 2017
People on the internet are upset that the legacy of Edhi is being ruined and the government is taking no ownership over helping out an icon
Faisal Edhi holding press conf to announce land mafia grabbing #Edhi Centres land proves that Police, UC Nazims, MPAs & Govt were sleeping
— M. Jibran Nasir (@MJibranNasir) October 26, 2017
Some called out the provincial governments for taking no notice of the activity
#Shame on #Sindh & #Balochistan #Govt supported #LandMafia 4 Land Grabbing #Edhi offices#Bhutto #PTI #IK
Thx @Xadeejournalist @ZarrarKhuhro pic.twitter.com/X7DHF6guJ2— Tahir Qayyum Tanoli (@TQTan0Li) October 25, 2017
Qabza group of PPP demolishing welfare centers of EDHI in Sindh…..Shame on u Sindh Govt . …..Zardari abb tou Teri hi baari hai pic.twitter.com/5FLYjlP0jd
— Maria (@watmariasays) October 26, 2017
And others questioned the role of media in the matter
A 10 minute segment @ZaraHatKay_Dawn resolves Edhi Centres lissue, wonder what not can unbiased media do for society @Xadeejournalist
— Arshad Jan (@Arshad1964) October 26, 2017
People are also standing up for the family to honor their innumerable contributions to Pakistan, earlier
Citizens & workers protest against demolition and occupation of #Edhi Center in #Thatta @omar_quraishi @titojourno @zalmayzia @SassuiPalijo pic.twitter.com/4r6ooeluG8
— Mushtaq Rajpar (@MushRajpar) October 26, 2017
#SaveEdhi
It’s payback time
Let’s join hands and help Edhi https://t.co/j92uTNpqRI— Irum Azeem Farooque (@Irumf) October 26, 2017
Faisal Edhi has also responded, thanking the people who’re standing up for the family
Faisal Edhi thanks the citizens of Thatta and everyone who is standing by #Edhi Foundation to free the centres from land grabbers pic.twitter.com/cLkI8bq2Gn
— M. Jibran Nasir (@MJibranNasir) October 26, 2017
It is sad to witness the cause of Abdul Sattar Edhi, the greatest social worker of Pakistan, dying out like this. A person who was granted a state funeral – his foundation should be protected and kept alive. The land mafia cannot win in this situation. Provincial governments need to be proactive and create accountability.
Cover image via: dawn.com