ISLAMABAD: While refuting rumours regarding the health condition of renowned philanthropist and Edhi Foundation Chairman Abdul Sattar Edhi, his son Faisal Edhi said on Saturday that his father is feeling better now.

While talking to a private news channel, Faisal Edhi said that Abdul Sattar Edhi was taken to hospital for routine dialysis.

The situation had turned awkward earlier in the day when the Foreign Office reacted to the rumours about Edhi’s death and issued an obituary statement which it had to retract later.

The Foreign Office statement carried tribute to Abdul Sattar Edhi, extended by Adviser to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz. “Today, with the sad demise of legendary philanthropist Abdul Sattar Edhi, everyone in Pakistan, Pakistanis abroad and millions of others, are in mourning,” it read.

“The iconic Edhi saheb was a soul who spent his whole life engaged in the noble cause of serving humanity. He lived for others.”

The statement added “we are deeply saddened to lose an ambassador of Pakistan, whose work in Pakistan and abroad has projected the country's true image and was a matter of great pride for all of us”. The adviser also offered his condolences to the bereaved family.

However, the Foreign Office had to later retract its statement.

“We are withdrawing the press release which was based on wrong information passed to this office. Inconvenience is regretted,” said the statement.