ISLAMABAD: Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Syed Khurshid Shah has made the first official effort to nominate the country`s greatest philanthropist, Abdul Sattar Edhi, for the Nobel Peace Prize.

The Pakistan Peoples Party leader has written to the Nobel Committee in Norway with a request to nominate Edhi for the prestigious prize for his `unmatchable services for the cause of humanity` Highlighting Edhi`s services, Mr Shah wrote that the late humanitarian was the founder of the largest nonprofit social welfare organisation in Pakistan and had `proved his commitment to humanity beyond any discrimination and prejudice` `This level of trust of millions of people was earned by him through decades of devoted, consistent and transparent efforts,` reads the letter, a copy of which was released to the media by the office of the opposition leader on Saturday.

Senate Chairman Raza Rabbani had already constituted a special committee,consisting of former Senate chairmen and the current leaders of the house and opposition, to pursue Edhi`s case for the prize. According to the Nobel Committee`s rules, the award cannot be given posthumously unless the death occurs after the announcement of the prize.

The committee was constituted by the chairman on the opening day of the current Senate session, on July 18, after a number of senators, paying tribute to the late philanthropist, said that he deserved the Nobel Peace Prize.

As soon as Mr Rabbani announced the formation of the committee, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaaf`s (PTI) Azam Swati drew attention to the Nobel Foundation`s Code, according to which, the award could not be given posthumously. Giving an example, the PTI leader said that Indian leader Mohandas Gandhi was not recommended by the committee for the award due to the same condition.

`Let us constitute the committee, which can go into this and see what is to be done, Mr Rabbani had said in response to Mr Swati`s point.

The committee consists of Leader of the House RajaZafarul Haq, Opposition Leader Aitzaz Ahsan, and former Senate chairmen Nayyar Bokhari, Farooq Naek, Mohammadmian Soomro and Wasim Sajjad.

The committee is yet to hold its first meeting.

Before the constitution of the committee, the Senate had passed a unanimous resolution, declaring Edhi a `national hero` and paying tribute to him for his `selfless services to humanity, particularly to the neglected and marginalised segments of society`.

The resolution called him a `great legend, ambassador of humanity and a selfless soul`, who devoted his life to serving humanity, sheltering orphans and serving helpless people.

The Senate has also recommended that July 8, the day he passed away, be observed as `Edhi Day` to commemorate his services and to encourage the youth to follow in his footsteps.

`From 1974, the statutes of the Nobel Foundation stipulate that a prize cannot be awarded posthumously, unless the death has occurred after the announcement of the Nobel Prize,` according to the official website of the Nobel foundation.