18/04/2022
Meet 28 year old Rabia Bano who was abandoned in a baby cradle âJhoolaâ at an Edhi Orphanage, Karachi, Pakistan. She was given a name, home and schooling. Rabia did well at school and went for higher studies in America, did an internship at Bronx District Attorneyâs Office, U.S Congress & Senate . Went to Law school and did Cybersecurity and Data Privacy Law. She is currently serving as Senior Privacy & Compliance Analyst at Nike, Inc. -Thanks to her adopted country.
Late Mrs Bilquis Edhi- âmother of orphansâ who saved thousands of babies from infanticide. She was best known for her âjhoolaâ project â placing cribs across the country for unwanted babies, taken in by her Edhi Foundation.
Till date, over 23,320 babies and children have been provided to the childless couples and families. Supreme Court of Pakistan had to move on an application by Edhis for clarification on Adoption process and legislation.
In an interview Mrs Edhi stated:
âThere is more hostility towards us from the religious and political groups, they claim that he is an atheist who will not be allowed into heavenâ
Despite mullahs criticism that âEdhi was encouraging children born out of wedlockâ Edhis continued with their humanitarian work without any promises of heaven or slogans of jihad. They didnât use religion for their charitable projects like worldâs largest volunteer ambulance service. They themselves lived modestly unlike the lavish lifestyles of those who criticised them.
In the end, I donât know what to say about Rabia Banoâs biological parents, who knows what were they going through that they had to desperately abandon a healthy baby daughter like her.
