Thousands mourn as Bashir Bilour laid to rest

Tens of thousands of mourners on Sunday attended the funeral prayers of slain Khyber Pakhtunkhwa senior minister Bashir Ahmad Bilour.
Awami National Party President Asfandyar Wali Khan, Interior Minister Rehman Malik, Khyber Pakthunkhwa Governor Barrister Masood Kausar, Engineer Shaukatullah, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Amir Haider Khan Hoti, Federal Communication Minister Arbab Alamgir, Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid senators Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and Mushahid Hussain, Opposition leader in KP Akram Khan Durrani, Pakhtoonkhwa Milli Awami Party leader Mehmood Khan Achakzai, President’s spokesman Senator Farhatullah Babar and Iranian consul general attended the funeral prayers.
Sindh ANP President Senator Shahi Sayed, KP PPP President Anwar Saifullah Khan, Balochistan Nationalist Party leader Mir Hasil Bazenjo, PML-N Senior Vice President Amir Muqam, Qaumi Watan Party Chairman Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao, KP Information Minister, Mian Iftikhar Hussain and Mutahida Qaumi Movement Rabta Committee Member Gulfaraz Khattak also attended the funeral prayers.
Security was heightened across Peshawar, particularly in Cantonment. The roads leading to Bilour House and Captain Karnal Sher Khan Shaheed Stadium were closed for traffic. During funeral prayers, the Peshawar Cantonment superintendent of police and other officials were in hunt of suspected suicide bombers.
During the funeral procession, the ANP workers were unable to control their sentiments. Right from Bilour House to the stadium, dozens of youths were shouting slogans against terrorism.
Earlier, thousands of people visited Bilour House and condoled the aggrieved family. With tears rolling down her face, ailing Begum Nasim Wali Khan prayed that the departed soul may rest in eternal peace. She remained with the coffin for couple of minutes.
Rehman Malik, Masood Kausar and Ameer Haider Hoti laid floral wreaths and prayed for the departed soul.
On the occasion, a contingent of KP police presented guard of honour. Later, his body was shifted to his native graveyard, adjacent to Syed Hasan Pirbiri graveyard, where the body was laid to rest.
On Saturday, Bilour, SHO Khan Raziq, Inspector Sattar Khan Khattak, Bilour’s personal secretary Noor Muhammad and six others were killed and another 18 were injured when a suicide bomber targeted the KP senior minister in Dhaki Nalbandi. Separately, the Kabuli police have registered a case against unidentified people for attacking the ANP leader. According to officials, as many as 10 people, including Bashir Ahmad Bilour, Inspector Sattar Khan Khattak and Noor Muhammad were killed in the suicide attack.
Meanwhile, the funeral prayers of SHO Sattar Khattak and Noor Muhammad were also offered at village Behram Karak and Kakshal Peshawar.