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Journalism of Courage
MUMBAI, MARCH 25: Pakistan’s most respected humanitarian activist Abdul Sattar Edhi today said he would return a top national civil award in disgust at the poverty and hunger in his country.
The 72-year-old Edhi was decorated with the Nishan-i-Imtiaz in 1982 for his services to society.
“Now when I look at the condition of people, I feel disgusted to retain such award,” he said.
The Edhi Welfare Trust he founded in 1972 has 310 branches in Pakistan and foreign countries, including Italy, Britain and United States.
Its welfare homes, run with donations from the public, shelter thousands of orphans, destitutes, mentally handicapped people and run-away women.
“I am not serving the people to see them dying of hunger and poverty. I serve them with a cause to see them prosperous and happy and have the right to live a respected life,” Edhi told AFP.
“I do not want to hang the award around my neck in such a situation. My award is to serve the people and see them living in a civilised society and not under a law of jungle.”
