Saturday, July 9, 2016

Pakistan team to wear black arm bands to mourn Edhi?s death

The Pakistan cricket team will play a match against Sussex on Saturday wearing black arm bands to mourn the death of humanitarian Abdus Sattar Edhi.

Pakistan will play its third and final warm up match against Sussex before it plays against England.

The players appear to be in good form and will be seen wearing black bands in their upcoming match against England as well.

Younis Khan marked 16,000 runs in the second day on the tour. Batsmen Azhar Ali scored two centuries.

Pakistan will play its first match against England on July 14

 

Pakistan team to wear black arm bands to mourn Edhi?s death

The Pakistan cricket team will play a match against Sussex on Saturday wearing black arm bands to mourn the death of humanitarian Abdus Sattar Edhi.

Pakistan will play its third and final warm up match against Sussex before it plays against England.

The players appear to be in good form and will be seen wearing black bands in their upcoming match against England as well.

Younis Khan marked 16,000 runs in the second day on the tour. Batsmen Azhar Ali scored two centuries.

Pakistan will play its first match against England on July 14

 

Massive crowd expected to attend Edhi?s funeral

KARACHI: Preparation are in full swing for funeral prayers of revered humanitarian Abdus Sattar Edhi who passed away on Friday after prolonged illness at the age of 88.

The funeral prayers will be held at the National Stadium. People from all walks of life including Sindh DG Rangers Maj General Bilal Akbar, Naval Chief Admiral Muhammad Zakaullah, Chief Minister Punjab Shehbaz Sharif and Philanthropist Ramzan Chhipa  are expected to attend the funeral at the stadium which can accommodate 35000 people.

Thousands of orphans and widows who benefited from the Edhi Centre are expected to attend the funeral.

His funeral prayer will be led by Mufti Jan Muhammad Naeemi.

Over 2000 policemen will guard the venue. Traffic police are helping people park cars and walk to the venue.

According to DIG Traffic Police Ameer Sheikh Expo Centre, Sports Complex and China Ground may be used for parking.

He added that the public can use gate number 4, 5 and 6 to enter. Media personnel can use gate 11 and 12. Meanwhile the central gate will be reserved for VIPs.

His family has requested authorities to not block roads for the funeral.

Earlier during the day his body was brought at his Meethadar office, where his last funeral rites were performed by his son Faisal Edhi.

He will be buried at the Edhi Village where he had dug his own grave 25 years ago.

In his last act of kindness he donated all of his body organs. Because of his condition only his cornea will be donated. An operation to extract his cornea was conducted. Two people will benefit from it.

The humanitarian wished to be buried in the clothes he died. His family will honour his wishes.

Edhi is revered as a national hero in Pakistan of nearly legendary status. He established the welfare organisation Edhi Foundation almost six decades ago that owns and runs Pakistan's largest ambulance service, as well as nursing homes, orphanages, clinics, maternity wards, morgues, homes for the elderly, and women's shelters, along with rehabilitation centers and soup kitchens across the country.

The head of the Edhi Foundation had received a number of international honours including Pakistan's Nishan-e-Imtiaz, the Ramon Magsaysay Award, the Lenin Peace Prize, and the Balzan Prize among several other international honours for his humanitarian work.

In 2011, then Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani proposed Edhi's name for the Nobel Peace Prize. He appeared on the Nobel list again this year after he was nominated for the award by young Pakistani Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai.

Frail and weak in his later years, Edhi appointed his son Faisal as managing trustee in early 2016.

Edhi is survived by four children and his wife Bilquis Edhi, who ran the Edhi foundation with him.

 

 

Massive crowd expected to attend Edhi?s funeral

KARACHI: Preparation are in full swing for funeral prayers of revered humanitarian Abdus Sattar Edhi who passed away on Friday after prolonged illness at the age of 88.

The funeral prayers will be held at the National Stadium. People from all walks of life including Sindh DG Rangers Maj General Bilal Akbar, Naval Chief Admiral Muhammad Zakaullah, Chief Minister Punjab Shehbaz Sharif and Philanthropist Ramzan Chhipa  are expected to attend the funeral at the stadium which can accommodate 35000 people.

Thousands of orphans and widows who benefited from the Edhi Centre are expected to attend the funeral.

His funeral prayer will be led by Mufti Jan Muhammad Naeemi.

Over 2000 policemen will guard the venue. Traffic police are helping people park cars and walk to the venue.

According to DIG Traffic Police Ameer Sheikh Expo Centre, Sports Complex and China Ground may be used for parking.

He added that the public can use gate number 4, 5 and 6 to enter. Media personnel can use gate 11 and 12. Meanwhile the central gate will be reserved for VIPs.

His family has requested authorities to not block roads for the funeral.

Earlier during the day his body was brought at his Meethadar office, where his last funeral rites were performed by his son Faisal Edhi.

He will be buried at the Edhi Village where he had dug his own grave 25 years ago.

In his last act of kindness he donated all of his body organs. Because of his condition only his cornea will be donated. An operation to extract his cornea was conducted. Two people will benefit from it.

The humanitarian wished to be buried in the clothes he died. His family will honour his wishes.

Edhi is revered as a national hero in Pakistan of nearly legendary status. He established the welfare organisation Edhi Foundation almost six decades ago that owns and runs Pakistan's largest ambulance service, as well as nursing homes, orphanages, clinics, maternity wards, morgues, homes for the elderly, and women's shelters, along with rehabilitation centers and soup kitchens across the country.

The head of the Edhi Foundation had received a number of international honours including Pakistan's Nishan-e-Imtiaz, the Ramon Magsaysay Award, the Lenin Peace Prize, and the Balzan Prize among several other international honours for his humanitarian work.

In 2011, then Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani proposed Edhi's name for the Nobel Peace Prize. He appeared on the Nobel list again this year after he was nominated for the award by young Pakistani Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai.

Frail and weak in his later years, Edhi appointed his son Faisal as managing trustee in early 2016.

Edhi is survived by four children and his wife Bilquis Edhi, who ran the Edhi foundation with him.

 

 

Politicians, artists send condolence messages for Edhi's death

KARACHI: World leaders, social activists and artists sent condolence messages over the death of revered social activist Abdul Sattar Edhi who passed away after protracted illness at the age of 88.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif who is on his way to Pakistan from London expressed  grief at the news. ?He saved hundredes of lives through his humanitarian efforts and was a true asset to the country,? he said.

Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sahrif expressed his grief at the death.  ?The nation has lost a great man today, he was truly a generous human being,? said the COAS. He wished for strength for Edhi?s family to cope with the irreplaceable loss.

The Inter-service Public Relation said that Edhi will be awarded with a guard of honour.

President Mamnoon Hussain offered his condolences at Edhi?s demise. ?His efforts will always be remembered,? he said.

?Edhi?s contribution to social welfare is irreplaceable,? added the president.

Opposition leader Imran Khan took to Twitter to express his grief , ?Truly saddened to hear of Edhi Sahab's passing. He was a noble soul & a great Pakistani. He gave the first big donation to SKMT 26 years ago,? Khan tweeted.

?There is so much we can all learn from you- we have lost our nation?s greatest humanitarian #Edhi #Pakistan,? tweeted Pakistan?s Oscar winner Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy.

Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousufzai said, ?Abdul Sattar Edhi passed away but his legacy of serving humanity will never die. Edhi changed lives and made history. Let?s remember his legacy and honour him by continuing his mission.?

India?s minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj tweeted, ?I express my deep sense of grief on the demise of Abdul Sattar #EdhiSahab. He was a noble soul who dedicated his life in service of mankind.?

Indian journalist and columnist  Burkha Dutt also took the micro-blogging website to speak about the late humanitarian. ?#EdhiSahab - reminder in an age of evil and violence and trauma and terror that goodness exists. Transcends nations.?

Renowned playwright Anwar Maqsood said, ?Edhi Sahab lit up this city.?

The renowned humanitarian, who was the founder and chairman of the Edhi Foundation, was diagnosed with kidney failure three years ago but was unable to receive a transplant due to his poor health.

His son Faisal Edhi confirmed his death on Friday.

Politicians, artists send condolence messages for Edhi's death

KARACHI: World leaders, social activists and artists sent condolence messages over the death of revered social activist Abdul Sattar Edhi who passed away after protracted illness at the age of 88.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif who is on his way to Pakistan from London expressed  grief at the news. “He saved hundredes of lives through his humanitarian efforts and was a true asset to the country,” he said.

Chief of Army Staff General Raheel Sahrif expressed his grief at the death.  “The nation has lost a great man today, he was truly a generous human being,” said the COAS. He wished for strength for Edhi’s family to cope with the irreplaceable loss.

The Inter-service Public Relation said that Edhi will be awarded with a guard of honour.

President Mamnoon Hussain offered his condolences at Edhi’s demise. “His efforts will always be remembered,” he said.

“Edhi’s contribution to social welfare is irreplaceable,” added the president.

Opposition leader Imran Khan took to Twitter to express his grief , “Truly saddened to hear of Edhi Sahab's passing. He was a noble soul & a great Pakistani. He gave the first big donation to SKMT 26 years ago,” Khan tweeted.

“There is so much we can all learn from you- we have lost our nation’s greatest humanitarian #Edhi #Pakistan,” tweeted Pakistan’s Oscar winner Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy.

Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousufzai said, “Abdul Sattar Edhi passed away but his legacy of serving humanity will never die. Edhi changed lives and made history. Let’s remember his legacy and honour him by continuing his mission.”

India’s minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj tweeted, “I express my deep sense of grief on the demise of Abdul Sattar #EdhiSahab. He was a noble soul who dedicated his life in service of mankind.”

Indian journalist and columnist  Burkha Dutt also took the micro-blogging website to speak about the late humanitarian. “#EdhiSahab - reminder in an age of evil and violence and trauma and terror that goodness exists. Transcends nations.”

Renowned playwright Anwar Maqsood said, “Edhi Sahab lit up this city.”

The renowned humanitarian, who was the founder and chairman of the Edhi Foundation, was diagnosed with kidney failure three years ago but was unable to receive a transplant due to his poor health.

His son Faisal Edhi confirmed his death on Friday.

Friday, July 8, 2016

Nawaz all set to return today

LONDON: The Home Office has issued new official visas to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif â€" who is all set to fly for Pakistan early on Saturday (today) after recovering from an open heart surgery â€" as well as the members of his entourage.

Around a dozen visas had been applied for three weeks back after the one-month-long official visas issued to the prime minister and his staff had expired. With Prime Minister Sharif having gone for the heart surgery, the visas were bound to expire, hence an extension request was made, which could have been done only from within the UK.

Nawaz Sharif is to fly from the Stanstead Airport for Pakistan early on Saturday. A Boeing 777-200 of the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) is all set reach the airport three hours before the PM’s departure. Landing permission from the airport has been obtained and all arrangements are in place, said a source involved with making the arrangements.

The prime minister will be accompanied to the airport by representatives from the British government, officials of the Pakistan High Commission and family members.

Sharif underwent an open heart surgery at a London hospital on May 31. The need for the surgery arose after the premier went through a cardiac procedure called Atrial Fibrillation Ablation in 2011 “during which certain complications occurred resulting in perforation of heart”, according to Maryam Nawaz, the PM’s daughter.

PM Nawaz Sharif stayed in hospital for less than a week. Thousands of people visited the hospital and his son’s flat on Park Lane to send him flowers and cards of well-wishes.

Due to the strict guidelines and instructions issued by his doctors to avoid any issues, PM Sharif didn’t meet his well wishers in person but replied to thousands of letters and cards wishing him well. His sons Hasan Nawaz and Hussain Nawaz remained with him throughout, and his nephews Hamza and Suleman Shahbaz Sharif visited London twice from Pakistan to be with their uncle. They arrived in London two days ahead of Eid and spent Eid with him.

Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif famously remarked that while “Nawaz Sharif is over 65 years old but he now has a heart of 25 years old”.

â€" Originally published in The News