KP senior minister Bashir Bilour among nine killed as suicide bomber attacks ANP’s meeting
Taliban claim responsibility for suicide attack
Regarded synonymous with “anti-Taliban resistance”, Senior Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Minister Bashir Ahmad Bilour succumbed to wounds minutes following a suicide bomber blew himself up leaving nine dead and 18 injured.
“We lost an excellent leader,” said Awami National Party (ANP) President Asfandyar Wali Khan while paying tribute on the late party leader.
The Saturday’s assassination of senior KP minister comes every week after an audacious attack on Pakistan Airforce (PAF) base inside Baacha Khan International Airport in Peshawar was foiled.
Bashir Bilour was returning from the party meeting in Dhaki Nalbandi area near historical Qissa Khawani bazaar when he was attacked. He was immediately rushed to nearby Lady Reading Hospital from where his body was transported by an hour or so later.
Lady Reading Hospital Executive Dr Arshad Javed said Bashir Ahmad Bilour was delivered to hospital “in critical condition” as they suffered chest and stomach injuries through the blast.
The ANP leader was immediately operated upon to save lots of his life. However, efforts of any team of doctors proved futile, leaving the country mourn the death of a fierce opponent on the heart. Taliban.
Bomb squad experts said the suicide bomber detonated his explosives if your ANP meeting was at its peak.
“The suicide bomber walked into your house where the meeting was taking place and detonated his vest,” Shafqat Malik, chief from the heart. bomb disposal squad, said.
Zahidullah, 30, a shopkeeper in your neighborhood, said he was standing to Bilour’s rear if the bomber struck.
“The meeting involved to end after i heard a noise and very soon afterwards I saw a blue flame after which the blast hit,” he told AFP.
Peshawar SSP Khalid Hamdani also told reporters that the suicide bomber walked to join the ANP’s elections-related public meeting. Bashir Bilour had survived at the very least three such attacks previously.
On the list of dead were Kabali Police headquarters SHO Sattar Khan plus the late minister’s personal secretary Noor Muhammad.
KP Information Minister Mian Iftikhar Hussain brushed aside impressions that Bashir Bilour was not provided enough security.
“This isn't true. Our security personnel are one of the dead,” he told an exclusive TV channel.
The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) claimed responsibility with the attack, justifying the attack inside the name of “war” against “secular elements” in the united states.
The TTP said it had targeted Bilour in revenge with the death of a single in their elders.
“We claim responsibility for killing Bashir Ahmad Bilour. It's revenge for that martyrdom your elder Sheikh Naseeb Khan,” TTP spokesman Ehsanullah Ehsan told AFP.
Expressed his shock and grief over the killing of Bilour, Pm Raja Pervez Ashraf announced one-day mourning nationally today (Sunday).
The national flag would fly at half-mast today, he said.
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government also announced three-day mourning across the province. Bilour’s funeral could well be held at 2pm today and he could be buried at Syed Hassan Pirbiri cemetery in Peshawar.
