Every year, the foundation had to face such negative campaigns, added Faisal Edhi.
“There is a high risk of fewer donations for the Edhi Foundation because every year there is a targeted campaign run against the organisation,” Faisal Edhi said.
He said, during the month of Ramazan, rumours of Edhi’s passing was also part of the same malicious propaganda campaign.
Given the fact, many people contribute to the foundation due to Edhi’s social work and character, “Some elements spread negative news and rumours only to keep general people away from donating to the foundation,” Faisal Edhi said.
Also Read: Abdul Sattar Edhi laid to rest at Edhi Village in Karachi
When asked who make such negative rumours public, he said only those people who are backward, conservative and hold extremist views are responsible.
“Mullahs have always distraught Edhi Sahab along with capitalists,” he said.
“During Friday sermons, Mullahs on occasions have made him Ahmadi, sometimes a kaafir (non-believer) and sometimes Agha Khani, urging people not to give donations to the Edhi Foundation,” Faisal Edhi said.
He said it was always difficult to understand the objective behind such ‘propaganda campaigns’, as the foundation gets fewer donations as compared to mosques and seminaries.
“I can only pray now and request those people to spare him. He is dead now and there is no point in issuing fatwas about him. It is useless,” he appealed.
On Friday last week, Abdul Sattar Edhi passed away at the age of 88 in Karachi. A state funeral was held for the philanthropist at the National Stadium Karachi amid tight security, with President Mamnoon Hussain and armed forces’ chiefs in attendance alongside other top military and civilian leadership.
Faisal Edhi could not agree with a criticism that the state had hijacked his father’s funeral.
“People said they had to face great difficulties reaching [the stadium], and they loved Edhi sahab. But the state bears a responsibility and a way to do things. Even if we disagree, I believe what the state did was the best.”
When asked, how he would want to run the affairs of the organisation, Faisal Edhi confidently said, definitely like his father ran it because its fundamental policies would remain the same.
“Edhi was a man of socialist models and he brought me up with those principles too. We used to discuss it a lot. On those principles, we will take the foundation forward based, even if we have to run it on the footpaths.”
He wished, “May Allah grant me the courage and strength to run the Edhi Foundation along the right path, as my father ran it.”
