TORONTO, 15 May — In an unexpected move yesterday, Abdul Sattar Edhi, who established the largest one-man welfare empire in Pakistan, nominated his eldest son to run his relief organizations in and outside the country.
Addressing a press conference here at the residence of Qasim Choksi, a Pakistani businessman, Edhi said that his 24-year-old son, Faisal, will head the operations of Sattar Edhi Foundation which spends nearly $20 million annually on social welfare.
Edhi’s wife Bilquise and other Pakistanis resident in Canada, including Anwar Merchant, president of the Canada-Pakistan Business Council, were also present at the news conference. Edhi said that Faisal would also be in charge of the foundation’s relief work in England. He added that the Pakistan-based women’s welfare network, earlier managed by his wife, would now be taken over by his 30-year-old daughter, Kubra. Edhi also said his wife would now be in charge of their welfare organization in New York.
Edhi, the Mother Teresa of Pakistan, currently on a tour of North America, dispelled the idea that he was retiring by handing over the reins to his son and daughter. “Make no mistake... I’m neither retiring nor taking a back seat. I will continue to provide guidelines for Faisal and Kubra,” he said.
The 73-year-old Edhi, who has dedicated his life to humanitarian work, also said he and his wife have no intention of staying away from Pakistan because of death threats that he has received there. “I’m not afraid. I will consider myself fortunate if I die while serving humanity in my country,” he said, adding: “Life and death is in the hands of Allah the Almighty. I will continue fearlessly to help the needy.”
He said his wife would return to Pakistan in 10 days while he will do so in a couple of months. “I will go to some European countries before returning to Karachi,” he said.
Edhi, who has buried nearly 375,000 unclaimed bodies in the last 40 years, did not give an exact date for his departure for Pakistan but said he would remain in North America and Europe for another three months.
Asked why he is on a hit list in Pakistan where he has done so much for the poor, Edhi said he cannot identify forces which want to kill him.
Edhi Foundation has a fleet of 550 ambulances, backed up by two aircraft and a helicopter to transport the poor and destitute to his welfare centers throughout Pakistan. The Foundation has extended its relief operation to as many as 34 countries making Edhi an international figure in disaster relief and humanitarian work. Pakistanis living in and out of the country donate generously to his work. He does not accept government grants. Instead he asks fellow Pakistanis to make donations. “I have faith in my countrymen. If I stand on any road or street in Lahore, I can raise 10 million rupees in a day — from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. And I have done it once before.”
Edhi, who has five children — two sons and three daughters — denounces violence, acts of terrorism, ethnic and sectarian clashes and said these factors have hampered Pakistan’s economic growth.
“For the sake of peace, I hope the present government of Gen. Pervez Musharraf will continue for another 10 years, although I am a supporter of democracy,” he said adding, “I think Pakistan will soon have a semi-democratic system.”
Answering another question, he said plans were under way to establish 300 charitable shops for the poor in different parts of Pakistan. He said the experience of setting up his first charity shop in London has been very successful. A similar shop, he added, was recently established in New York.
