A FIGHTER FALLS

By
Umar.Saleem
-
15
186

Fearless, outspoken and one of the harshest critics of the Taliban, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Senior Minister Bashir Ahmed Bilour embraced martyrdom in a suicide attack on an Awami National Party meeting in Peshawar on Saturday.
Eight others, including Bilour’s personal secretary and a police station house officer, were killed and more than 20 people were injured in the attack, which took place in Dhakki Naalbandi area of the famous Qissa Khawani Bazaar of the provincial capital. Bilour’s funeral procession would be taken out from his brother’s place at 2pm today (Sunday) and the prayers would be said at Col Sher Khan Stadium in Peshawar. The KP and Balochistan provincial governments announced a three-day mourning over the killings, while the federal, Sindh and Punjab governments also followed suit with announcement of a one-day mourning. Flags would be flown a half mast in mourning. All major political leaders, including President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) chief Nawaz Sharif and Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) chief Altaf Hussain condemned the attack. Bilour’s son Usman Bilour said his party and family were ready to make more sacrifices for the sake of the country. Per details, Federal Railways Minister Ghulam Ahmad Bilour and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Senior Minister Bashir Ahmad Bilour were present in a corner meeting of ANP at Dhakki Naalbandi when Bashir Bilour came outside the makeshift facility to attend a telephone call. Officials said Bashir was talking on the phone when a suicide bomber attempted to touch the ANP leader, but was blocked by police personnel. However, the bomber exploded himself up instantly, killing seven people and injuring several others, including Bashir Bilour.
The injured were rushed to Lady Reading Hospital, where doctors said Bashir had gone into a cardiac arrest. He was operated upon for about an hour, after which the doctors pronounced him dead. A large number of party leaders and workers thronged the hospital after the news broke out. Beside Bilour, Kabuli Police Station SHO Sattar Khan Khattak and Bilour’s personal secretary Noor Mohammad were also killed in the attack.
The Taliban sheltering in the narrow tribal strip of Darra Adam Khel claimed responsibility for killing Bashir Ahmad Bilour. Mohammad, introducing himself as a spokesman of TTP Darra Adam Khel chapter called up several media houses to claim responsibility. Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan spokesman Ihsanullah Ihsan also claimed responsibility for the attack and vowed to carry out more attacks against all those who were against the militants.
Hailing from an influential family of Peshawar, Bilour was a lawyer by profession and remained a member of the Peshawar Bar Association and High Court Bar Association. He successfully returned as an MPA from Peshawar since 1990 and served as provincial minister in at least four governments. He is survived by a widow, two sons and two daughters.
Bilour had on several occasions expressed his resolve to fight terrorism even if it meant sacrificing his life. “It’s not just the ANP’s fight…the entire country must take ownership of it now. We are ready to kill or be killed in this battle for peace,” he had said in many interviews.
The bomb disposal squad said four kilogrammes of explosives were used by the suspected bomber to execute the attack. It was the third suicide attempt on Bashir Ahmad Bilour since 2008. The ANP has been a target of the terrorists since coming into power in 2008 elections, as it has been openly criticising the Taliban and their brand of Islam.
At least 925 people have been killed and more than 2,255 others injured in 581 incidents of terrorism across the country in the current year.

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15 COMMENTS

  2. How many more lives will be taken before we must resolve this through political dialogs. How much more war we can take?

  3. In the endless list of obituaries, here is another obituary of a brave man that Pakistan lost at a time when she desperately need as many as possible. Mr Bashir Balour RIP.

  4. these taliban will surely burn in hell.everyone should get up and root this fitna out.army must do a big operation and kill them all

  5. Bashir Ahmed Bilour would be ever remembered for his great word for the announcement of $100,000 award to be given to the person who kills the maker of the anti-Islam blasphemous film

    THE LOVERS OF PROPHET MUHAMMAD PBUH NEVER DIES

  9. yeh behnchood taliban who actually sponsored by raw, mosad, saudi arabia, other dictatorial states of middle east, must be killed brutally. they even doesn't deserve to be trailed, coz in the judiciary there are sympathizers of it.
    oooooooooooh great bashir shaheed, there is no one in pak military, judiciary or other instotions who would carry forward your mission, but i can pray to Allah almighty to rest ur soul in eternal peace (ameen)

    • usman refrain from using foul language. It really does cast a shadow on your demeanor. Using a swear and then using Allah's name in your paragraphs reflects a lack of respect for religion.
      In regards to combating the TTP, this can only be achieved through resistance and education.
      Please all, prevent from using foul language as it displaces a negative flaw in ones character. Please continue to have thoughtful and intellectual discussions.

  11. desi, who said i was a maulvi? Stop being pre-judgemental! Secondly, by my raising my concern about foul language is a positive for society, why do you feel soo frustrated about it?

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