Abdul Sattar Edhi's funeral: Pakistan mourns passing away of beloved philanthropist
Pakistan gave Edhi a state funeral in recognition of his services to the country. A 19 gun salute was given, army spokesman, Lt. Gen. Asim Bajwa, tweeted.
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Pakistani soldiers stand guard as people wait for the funeral of Pakistan’s renowned social worker Abdul Sattar Edhi in Karachi on Saturday. The legendary philanthropist, who devoted his life to the poor and the destitute, died on Friday at a hospital in Karachi following a prolonged illness. He was 88. AP
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Pakistani soldiers carry the coffin containing the body of Edhi for the funeral. Pakistan gave Edhi a state funeral in recognition of his services to the country. A 19 gun salute was given, Pakistan’s army spokesman, Lt. Gen. Asim Bajwa, tweeted. AP
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Tens of thousands of people attended the state funeral at a stadium and thousands more were unable to get to the venue. Edhi established his charitable foundation almost six decades ago. It owns and runs Pakistan’s largest ambulance service, nursing homes, orphanages, clinics and women’s shelters, along with rehabilitation centers and soup kitchens. AP
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Pakistan’s army chief Gen. Raheel Sharif, fifth from right in front row, attended the funeral of Edhi. Pakistan’s top civilian and army leadership offered funeral prayers at the stadium, as the country mourned the loss of a man commonly known as the “Angel of Mercy” for his internationally-acclaimed social work. His work earned him numerous awards at home and abroad, including the Gandhi Peace Award, the 2007 Unesco Madanjeet Singh Prize, the 2011 London Peace Award, the 2008 Seoul Peace Award and the Hamdan Award for Volunteers in Humanitarian Medical Service. AP
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Pakistan Military Chief Raheel Sharif hugs Faisal Edhi, son of Abdul Sattar Edhi, during the funeral. Edhi donated his eyes and asked his family to bury him in the clothes he wore at the time of his death, his son Faisal Eidhi said. As part of his commitment to living simply, Edhi would never own more than a few items of clothing and a pair of shoes, his son said. Later in the day, Edhi was buried in the graveyard he established on the city’s outskirts for unclaimed bodies. AFP
