‘Our queen is gone,’ Pakistani celebrities, politicians, philanthropists remember Bilquis Edhi

KARACHI: Celebrities, politicians and philanthropists on Saturday paid glowing tribute to Bilquis Edhi, calling her a “queen” whose selfless work for humanity had made a role model for generations to come.

Bilquis, the wife of renowned humanitarian Abdul Sattar Edhi and co-chair of the Edhi Foundation charitable organization, passed away on Friday after a month-long illness. She was aged 74.

Her funeral prayers were offered at Memon Mosque, which were attended by Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, members of his cabinet, city administrator and other political and social figures.

She was laid to rest by the side of her mother in Mevashah graveyard, Karachi.

At 19, Edhi, almost two decades her senior, proposed to Bilquis and the two were married in Karachi, kicking off a partnership of life and humanitarian work that lasted half a century.

Her husband passed away in 2016 after both worked closely for nearly six decades. Today, their charity operates nursing homes, orphanages, soup kitchens and family planning centers — all free of charge — as well as Pakistan’s largest ambulance service.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed grief over the passing of Bilquis Edhi and described it as a “huge loss” for the nation.

Former Prime Minister Imran Khan said, her quiet, selfless work for the poor, the homeless, especially the orphans and the abandoned children, made her a role model and a symbol of hope.

The Sindh government has declared Saturday, March 16 as a day of mourning over her demise.  

“Bilquis Edhi was an icon and the void created with her demise can never be filed. She stood by Edhi Saab, the greatest philanthropist, through thick and thin. She accompanied her husband to scenes of turf wars, collecting bodies and going on long, lethargic road trips,” Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah told Arab News.

He said her role for women and children could not be matched by anyone.

“She raised hundreds of parentless and orphan children and took care of them like one takes care of their own children,” Shah said. "Though she is no more, her strong character will always serve as a guiding path for all, especially girls and women."

Saad Edhi said his grandmother not only served women and children for most of her life, but she also offered them lessons through her strong character as how to take up the leadership role successfully.

“The demise of Dadi Ma [grandma] has broken us. But she has also left hundreds of thousands inconsolable because she was the mother of the nation,” Saad told Arab News. “She devoted her whole life to the service of humanity.”

Famous musician and singer Hadiqa Kiani posted a photo on Instagram of herself and Bilquis holding her adopted son, Naaday Ali.

“She trusted me with being a mother and I, like so many others touched by Mrs. Edhi’s grace, will forever be grateful,” Kiani wrote in her post.

Speaking to Arab News, Kiani said Bilquis was "the mother of our nation." 

“She was a simple woman, committed to the plea of others alongside her husband, Abdul Sattar Edhi. The only time I saw her outside of her high spirits was when Edhi sahab passed away, she told me 'my king is gone',” she said.

"Now, our queen is gone too, I pray for her peace, I pray we’re able to carry on her legacy."

Fashion designer Huma Adnan, who supports underprivileged women through handicrafts, said Bilquis had worked selflessly to save thousands of newborn children and made sure no one was abandoned in this country.

“Her relentless work towards humanity is immeasurable and will always be remembered and followed for times to come,” she told Arab News.

Film and TV actor Zeba Bakhtiar said Bilquis was "a new inspiration" each time she met her. “Truly a great lady and role model,” Bakhtiar told Arab News.

Paying homage to the philanthropist, TV actor Aijaz Aslam said Bilquis and Edhi sahab both lived a very simple life and lived for others.

“This is a big loss for us,” Aslam said.

“Bilquis Edhi's contributions to Edhi Foundation are a lasting legacy and testament to her never-ending quest to give back and support philanthropic activities started by her late husband,” said Javed Afridi, chairman of the Zalmi Foundation.

“Bilquis Edhi sahiba is an inspiration for us, especially for young girls.”

Sarim Burney, another philanthropist, said both Bilquis and Abdul Sattar Edhi were an inspiration for all humanitarians.

“Selfless people like Bilquis Edhi are inspiration for those who want to serve humanity,” Burney told Arab News. "She is a role model, and her life will inspire more women to join her cause."

In a wide-ranging interview to Arab News last month, Bilquis said she never got scared when she and her husband would remove the remains of abandoned babies, mostly born out of wedlock, from the trash and pick up corpses left behind on scenes of accidents and gang violence on the teeming alleyways of Karachi.

Former Sindh governor Muhammad Zubair said she had contributed in a manner that would be remembered for a long period of time.

“The work of Bilquis Edhi was spread over several decades of serving the humanity in a manner that I don’t think any woman in Pakistan can match,” Zubair told Arab News.

Bilquis, along with her husband, placed cradles for abandoned children and faced criticism for it.

Senator Faisal Subzwari said Mrs Edhi was a "guardian angel."

“She was the mother of thousands, who were rejected by their families and society,” Subzwari told Arab News. "She was the guardian angel of Karachi."

In 2015, a deaf-mute Indian girl stranded in Pakistan for 13 years after wandering over one of the world’s most militarised borders was reunited with her family in India by the Edhis who had cared for her during her time in Pakistan.

“Geeta strayed into Pakistan. It was Edhi family which took care of her. She was treated as a Hindu girl and photos and status of Hindu gods and goddesses were given to her,” said Jatin Desai, an Indian journalist and rights activist.

Bilquis worked for the common people of Pakistan and across, he told Arab News.