KARACHI: Glowing tributes were paid to the late Abdul Sattar Edhi by the Orangi Pilot Project (OPP) community at their head office here on Saturday.

“Both the OPP and the Edhi Foundation work for the betterment of people who don’t receive any government support,” said Aquila Ismail, the late Perween Rahman’s sister.

“People like Edhi sahib, Dr Akhtar Hameed Khan, Perween Rahman and Dr Adibul Hasan Rizvi not just care for humanity but also fauna and flora. Things such as race, religion, class or creed have never come in their way as they treat everyone equally, doing justice to all. And in doing so they never felt or feel like they are sacrificing anything because they get so much of satisfaction from their work,” said Ms Ismail.

Executive director of the OPP Anwar Rashid said that he had worked closely with Edhi in Sukkur during flooding there. “Edhi sahib had a self-assured air about him. He had confidence in his ability to help others and provide for their needs. And this confidence came from his selfless nature. His actions earned him people’s trust,” he said while extending his full support to Faisal Edhi.

Aslam Khawaja, who has worked with the Edhi Foundation and OPP, said that when Dr Akhtar Hameed Khan founded the OPP, he left a good career and a fine job to do so. And Edhi hailed from the business-minded Memon community. “But both put the needs of the common people before their own needs. Working for the betterment of humanity is not a part-time job. You need to stay alert and on your toes at all times. It is good to have Perween’s sister and Edhi’s son so involved in their missions now,” he said.

“Edhi Foundation’s regular services didn’t stop even for a minute even on the day of Edhi sahib’s burial, which says a lot for the good hands this organisation is in after him.”

Younus Baloch, director of the Urban Resource Centre, said that they would watch Edhi sahib helping the mentally ill, the drug addicts, picking up dead bodies and give shelter to women and old people discarded by their own families. “And he did all this while refusing any help from foreign donors. He and his volunteers would appear where needed like angels,” he said.

Prof Meraj Siddiqui said he learnt from Edhi that one could only find and appreciate light after going into darkness.

Thanking everyone, Mrs Sabah Faisal Edhi, also present on the occasion, said that listening to so many people remember Edhi with such fondness she felt that he lived in their hearts.

Finally, Faisal Edhi said that his father used to say that there were two kinds of people in society —

the oppressor and the oppressed. “The oppressor takes away from the oppressed. It is a common thing to happen in a society such as ours where the elite class mostly plays the role of the oppressor, just not bothering about the poor who get trampled.

“Why else do the four harvests in one year don’t feed the hungry of our country? Why don’t the sick get health facilities? Why are children not in schools? Why is it that the water comes through pipelines here but is sold through tankers? It is then good to see how people and institutions like the OPP work to help the poor and oppressed stand on their feet. The Edhi Foundation also works on the same lines,” he said.

Saleem Alimuddin, Asha’ar Sagar, Niilofer Farrukh, Naila Ghias, Rana Asif, Sirajuddin and Salma Mir also spoke.

Published in Dawn, July 24th, 2016