KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has censured the Thatta district administration over land mafia’s attempt to grab property of the Edhi Foundation and regretted that a person like Faisal Edhi had to reach the government through a press conference.

Faisal Edhi, son of world famous social worker Abdul Sattar Edhi, had said at a press conference on Wednesday that the local administration had shut Thatta’s Edhi centre on the orders of a local court.

The foundation could opt for suspending its services in rural districts of Sindh as a last resort because ‘land mafias’ were continuously encroaching upon its land and establishments with complete impunity, he said.

The chief minister took notice of Faisal’s press conference and initially directed Hyderabad commissioner to look after Edhi Foundation property and solve its problems immediately.

“They are doing great humanitarian work and it is our responsibility to support them and help them continue their services,” he added.

He asked the commissioner to provide space for office to Edhi Foundation in Thatta so that it could continue its welfare services unhindered.

The commissioner informed the chief minister that the Thatta administration had not shut the centre unilaterally but it had been closed on the orders of the court. On this the chief minister directed him to provide an adequate space to the foundation for the establishment of centre in Thatta till the case was decided.

The chief minister then spoke to Karachi commissioner as well and directed him to meet Faisal Edhi personally and solve his problems. “It is quite shocking and deplorable that the land mafia is grabbing the property of the Edhi Foundation,” he said, adding where was the administration when it happened and what was it doing?

A person like Faisal Edhi should not be made so helpless that he had to reach the administration and the government through press conference. “It is our responsibility to remain in touch with him so that he can continue humanitarian services and improve them further,” he said.

Published in Dawn, October 27th, 2017