Sindh CM takes notice of Thatta Edhi centres being encroached

KARACHI: Chief Minister Sindh Syed Murad Ali Shah sought a report from commissioner Hyderabad, just a day after Bilquis and Faisal Edhi complained that Edhi centres were being encroached by land mafia.

“We cannot tolerate the hindrance being created in humanitarian services rendered by Edhi Foundation,” he said on Thursday.

The provincial chief minister directed commissioner Hyderabad to contact the Edhis and resolve the matter as soon as possible adding that he needed “an action against the elements who are eyeing Edhi centres.”

A day earlier, Bilquis Edhi, the wife of eminent social worker Abdul Sattar Edhi, and Faisal Edhi, his son claimed that Edhi welfare centres in several cities and towns of Sindh had been illegally occupied by “influential local figures”.

Addressing a press conference in Karachi, they requested the Sindh and the federal government to order the “land mafia” to vacate the properties of Edhi foundation.

They also requested the Balochistan government to step in, as an Edhi centre in Hub was also reportedly occupied.

Bilquis Edhi and her son Faisal Edhi alleged that the land mafia enjoyed the patronage of certain political parties.

They said that the “anti-humanity elements” were demolishing the welfare foundation’s properties to build shops and centres for commercial activities. The centres that had been serving humanity for the past three decades are being demolished, the Edhis maintained.

They said the land for these centres had been allotted to the Edhi Foundation by the National Highway Authority (NHA).

“NHA awarded these properties to Edhi Foundation to set up these centres on 200 square metre wide belts of land on both sides of the highways. These belts are the property of the highway authority,” they explained.

The most recent occupation was of an Edhi Welfare centre in Thatta, that had been functioning since 1985, Edhi said.

A tearful Bilquis Edhi lamented that authorities have not taken any action against the people who were “targeting the Edhi Foundation”.

She also expressed concern for Edhi ambulances and workers who, she said, had no protection and were vulnerable to attacks by “evil forces”.