RAWALPINDI: Hundreds of people offered a funeral in absentia for Abdul Sattar Edhi at various places in the garrison city on Saturday.

The funeral at Liaquat Bagh was arranged by the Punjab Bar Association’s Human Rights Committee in which more than 300 people participated, along with Advocate Asad Abbasi and PPP’s Nasir Mir.

Mr Mir said Edhi was always there for everyone and that people respected him. He said the people of Rawalpindi will feel alone in times of trouble now that he is no more. Edhi left the message of love and of serving those in need, he said, adding that the best tribute to the late philanthropist would be to serve people and get involved in charity work.

More than 400 people also attended a funeral in absentia at Pirwadhai Mor on Peshawar Road which was arranged by PML-N MNA Malik Abrar. Elected members of the Rawalpindi Cantonment Board including Rashid Khan, Malik Munir, Hafiz Hussein and Malik Sajid also attended.

After the prayer, Mr Abrar vowed that elected representatives will follow in Edhi’s footsteps and will serve people without discrimination.

The JI Rawalpindi chapter also arranged a prayer at their party offices. JI Rawalpindi Emir Shamsur Rehman Swati said Edhi was the real face of Pakistan.

Published in Dawn, July 10th, 2016