Edhi centers under threat by influential land grabbers

Late philanthropist Abdul Sattar Edhi's family has made an appeal to the Sindh and Federal governments to take action against the influential land grabbers who had illegally taken over Edhi foundation operating in the cities of Sindh and Balochistan.

Addressing a conference at Karachi Press Club, Edhi’s family Bilquis Edhi and Faisal Edhi said they needed Balochistan government’s intervention for one of their centers in Hub, which was occupied by influential land grabbers. The family alleged that these influential land grabbers enjoyed the support by certain political parties.

The family urged the Sindh and Balochistan government to take action against the land grabbers before they vacate their centers forcefully.  They said that they had been allotted the land for these centers by National Highway Authority (NHA).

Addressing the presser, the late social worker's family claimed that Edhi centers, which have been involved in social work since past three decades, are being demolished for building shops and centers for commercial activities. "NHA awarded these properties to Edhi Foundation to set up these centres on 200 square meter wide belts of land on both sides of the highways. These belts are the property of the highway authority,” local media quoted them saying.

Bilquis also expressed concern that Edhi ambulances and workers are also under threat as they have no protection and are vulnerable.