PESHAWAR: In a ghastly incident, Awami National Party (ANP) candidate Barrister Haroon Bilour was among at least 13 people killed in a suicide blast targeting a corner meeting in Yaka Toot area of the provincial capital late Tuesday. At least 35 other people, including Haroon Bilour’s son Daniyal Bilour, were injured in the attack. Of them five were said to be in a critical condition at Lady Reading Hospital. The blast occurred as Haroon arrived at the stage to address supporters. He was contesting elections from PK-78 Peshawar. Haroon was son of Bashir Ahmed Bilour, a senior ANP figure who was himself martyred in a suicide blast in Peshawar in 2012. Haroon succumbed to injuries shortly after he was whisked to a hospital. The Bomb Disposal Squad (BDS) confirmed that it was a suicide blast. Chief Election Commissioner Sardar Mohammad Raza condemned the attack and termed it a “weakness of security institutions”. He said that the attack was a conspiracy against transparent elections, noting that the provincial governments were ordered to provide fool-proof security to all candidates. Following the harrowing incident, Interim Prime Minister Nasirul Mulk and heads of various political parties denounced the attack. Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan expressed sorrow over the deaths. In his message on Twitter, the PTI chief called for provision of security to all political parties and their candidates. While expressing sorrow over the killings, Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said: “The terror attack on pro-democracy individuals is a conspiracy.” Pak Sarzameen Party (PSP) chief Mustafa Kamal said those who perpetrators did not deserve to be considered as humans. Earlier on Monday, the Senate’s Standing Committee on Interior was told by the National Counter Terrorism Authority (NACTA) that it had issued a security alert for several political parties’ leaders. The authority said that it had apprised the federal and provincial interior ministers and law enforcement agencies about the security alert for Imran Khan, Asfandyar Wali, Aftab Sherpao, Akram Khan Durrani, Ameer Haider Hoti, Talha Saeed and senior leadership of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and the Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PMLN). The committee expressed concerns over escalating threats to political leadership of the country and added that ensuring their security was the responsibility of federal and provincial governments. Earlier this month, seven people, including a candidate of the Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal, were injured in an explosion during an election rally in Bannu. Published in Daily Times, July 11th 2018.<doc-sep>PESHAWAR: Awami National Party (ANP) leader Barrister Haroon Bilour, who was martyred in a suicide attack a day ago, was laid to rest in Peshawar on Wednesday. Bilour’s funeral prayers were earlier offered in the Wazir Bagh area. Haroon Bilour was among 20 people martyred in a suicide attack, which took place in Peshawar on Tuesday night in the Yakatoot neighbourhood — moments after Bilour arrived there to address a corner meeting. Presently, 62 people injured in the suicide attack are seeking treatment at Lady Reading Hospital, authorities confirmed. The deceased ANP leader was set to contest the July 25 elections from Peshawar's PK-78 constituency. The son of Bashir Ahmed Bilour, a senior ANP figure who, himself, was martyred in a suicide attack in 2012 after a party meeting, Haroon was rushed to the hospital in a critical condition but succumbed to his wounds shortly after. The ANP leader was 47 years old. After the incident, a case was registered at police station Agha Mir Jani Shah, with SHO Wajid Ali as the complainant. Security officials gather at the site of a suicide bombing at an ANP rally in Peshawar on July 10, 2018. Photo: AFP ECP postpones polls in PK-78 Following the incident, the Election Commission of Pakistan postponed the polls in PK-78 (Peshawar-XIII) constituency. The polls have been postponed due to the death of the PK-78 candidate, the electoral body said, adding that the new schedule for the said constituency will be announced later. The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Bar Council has also announced a three-day mourning in light of the attack, with lawyers beginning the boycott of court proceedings today. Two bodies yet to be identified A list of all those killed in the explosion has also been released, however, two bodies are yet to be identified. Aside from Haroon Bilour, others killed in the explosion have been identified as Asif Khan, 28, Muhammad Shoaib, 19, Muhammad Naeem, Yaseen, Haji Muhammad Gul, 45, Najeeb ullah, 20, Abid ullah, 30, Huzaifa, 12, Arif Hussain, 25, Akhtar Gul, 18, Imran, 30, Khan Muhammad, 30, Rizwan, Zameer Khan, Israr, Sameen and Sadiq. The funeral prayers of 10 of the deceased were offered earlier, following which they were buried. COAS condemns targeting of Haroon Bilour Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa condemned the targeting of Haroon Bilour, according to a social media post by Director-General Inter-Services Public Relations Major General Asif Ghafoor. "We are fighting against nexus of inimical forces which aren’t willing to absorb a peaceful and stable Pakistan. We remain undeterred and shall defeat them," the COAS remarked. Moreover, the United States embassy also condemned the attack in a social media post. "The United States condemns in the strongest possible terms the attack in Peshawar against civilians campaigning for this month's elections. We send our deepest condolences to the families and friends of those who were killed and hope for the speedy recovery of those who were wounded," the embassy said in a statement. ANP — on the target list The ANP was the main target of Taliban attacks around the 2013 election, with scores of workers and candidates killed in terrorist attacks across the country. Last month, a US drone strike killed the Pakistani Taliban chief Mullah Fazlullah, who had claimed responsibility for most of the attacks against the ANP in the 2013 election on the grounds that it had supported operations against the militants. The Pakistan Army announced on Tuesday it would deploy over 371,000 troops to ensure peaceful and fair and free elections on July 25.<doc-sep>PESHAWAR: Senior Awami National Party (ANP) leader Barrister Haroon Bilour and 13 other persons lost their lives while at least 45 others were wounded when a suicide bomber targeted an election rally of the party in Peshawar’s central Yakatoot area late Tuesday night. The death toll was confirmed by a spokesman for the Lady Reading Hospital — the city’s leading medical facility. Peshawar’s Senior Superintendent of Police Operations, Javed Iqbal, confirmed to The News that the blast was carried out by a suicide bomber. “Haroon Bilour along with others was martyred in the blast,” he said and added that the head and other body parts of the bomber had been recovered. Condemning the terrorist attack, Chief Election Commissioner Sardar Mohammad Raza termed it a “weakness of security institutions”.He said that the attack was a conspiracy against transparent elections, noting that the provincial governments were ordered to provide fool-proofsecurity to all candidates. In December 2012, Haroon Bilour’s father, Bashir Ahmad Bilour, a former senior minister and ANP leader, was also martyred in a suicide attack in Qissa Khwani. Haroon was contesting from the very constituency on which his father ran for the party. Eyewitnesses said an election rally was arranged by the party in Yakatoot with Haroon Bilour being the keynote speaker on Tuesday night. A bomb went off in the rally at around 11 pm, injuring a large number of participants, including Bilour. At least, 12 victims could not survive the injuries. Eyewitnesses said Harøon was warmly received by his supporters with fireworks on his arrival at the venue. As if waiting for his arrival, the suicide bomber blew himself soon after. It is said he was not very far from Bilour when the bomb was set off. Earlier reports suggested that Haroon Bilour was accompanied by his young son, Danial. But he spoke to the media saying that his father stopped him from going to the venue. He said he was going to join him later but was informed of the blast when he was on his way. The news of the blast has sent shockwaves across the country with many people expressing sadness and fear on social media immediately after the news of the incident was aired on news networks. Bilour was the ANP candidate for the provincial assembly from Peshawar inner city. This is the first major attack on any election rally in 2018. Hundreds of ANP workers, supporters and residents of Peshawar reached the Lady Reading Hospital soon after hearing about the incident. Many of them were devastated. The news was tragic for everyone as the family has suffered a lot in recent years. Before Haroon, his father Bashir Bilour was martyred in a suicide attack while his brother Usman also died quite young. A cousin of Haroon and the lone son of Ghulam Ahmad Bilour, Shabbir Bilour, had lost his life in election related violence in 1990s. ANP had to suffer major losses in the 2013 general elections when its leaders were restricted to their homes due to daily attacks. Hundreds of ANP workers , including leaders, have been killed in suicide attacks and blasts in the violence persisting for years. The 12 victims are: 1/- Zameer Khan, son of Madad Khan, resident of Shaheed Abad, Phando, Age 18 years. 2/- Arif Hussain, son of Qamabar Ali, resident of Kocha Risaldar, age 25. 3/- Haji Muhammada Gul, son of Sheikh Jan, resident of Yakatoot Teadi, age 45. 4/- Mujahid Ullah, son of Tila Muhammad, resident of Yakatoot, age 30. 5/- Imran Ullah, son of Usman Khan, resident of Shadabad Colony Yakatoot, age 30. 6/- Namloom, age 20. 7/- Najeeb, son of Rehmat Ullah, resident of Yakatoot, age 20. 8/- Akhtar Gul, son of Habib, resident of Yakatoot, age 20. 9/- Muhammad Shoaib, son of Shafi Ullah, resident of Muqrab Khan, Yakatoot, age 19. 10/- Asif, son of Tawas, r/o Yakatoot Neahar Ghara, age 28. 11/- Huzaiafa, son of Naveed, r/o Chan Agaha, age 12. 12/- Haroon Bilour, son of Bashir Bilour, Peshawar Cantt, age 45. After the killing of Awami National Party ( ANP) candidate in a suicide attack, the ANP workers became violent and reportedly tortured the doctors and other health workers at the Accident and Emergency Department of the hospital. According to spokesperson of LRH, Zulfiqar Ali Babakhel, 14 people were killed and more than 60 others were injured in a suicide attack on the ANP political rally in Peshawar.After the ANP workers came to know about the blast, they arrived in the LRH, became violent and started storming the hospital and allegedly tortured the doctors and other staff members when they were told that Haroon Bilour had died in the blast. Dr Khalid Masud, Hospital Director of LRH, told The News that hundreds of ANP workers thronged the hospital and started ransacking of the hospital’s emergency department. He said the police were there but they were helpless before the violent activists of the party. Dr Khalid Masud said they had immediately called the doctors and other staff to the hospital when they were informed about the blast. However, he said most of the doctors and other staff members could not reach the casualty department due to violence in the hospital. A senior ANP leader Mian Iftikhar Hussain later arrived in the LRH and consoled the party workers.Talking to the media, Mian Iftikhar said that those trying to keep the ANP out of polls or sabotage elections would be frustrated.<doc-sep>ANP leader Haroon Bilour’s funeral prayers have been offered in Wazir Bagh. Thousands of ANP workers and supporters attend the funeral. Over 500 police personnel have been deputed for the funeral’s security while the bomb disposal squad had cleared the route from Bilour House to the funeral ground. The Election Commission has delayed the election on Peshawar’s PK-78, from where ANP leader was contesting. According to the Lady Reading Hospital, 21 people, including Bilour, were killed in a suicide blast at the party’s political gathering in Peshawar on Tuesday. According to the Election Commission, an election will be held for the seat at a later date. An official of the election regulatory body said that polls are delayed for a seat when a contesting candidate dies. The blast left more than 62 people injured. This was the first major incident of violence ahead of the elections in Pakistan. The TTP claimed responsibility for the attack. It identified the bomber as Abdul Karim. The terror group termed the attack “revenge” for the previous provincial government led by the ANP. The blast occurred as Bilour arrived at the stage to address supporters in Yaka Toot area. Also read: ANP candidate Haroon Bilour among 13 killed in Peshawar suicide blast Haroon was son of Bashir Ahmed Bilour, a senior ANP figure who was himself martyred in a suicide blast in Peshawar in 2012. The ANP has been targeted by militants in the past over its vocal opposition to extremist groups like the Taliban. Militants have targeted politicians, religious gatherings, security forces and even schools in Peshawar until the government launched operations to contain them. The bodies and injured were taken to Lady Reading hospital and CMH Peshawar. The Bomb Disposal Squad confirmed that it was a suicide bomb. Police said that the head of the suspected suicide bomber has been found from the rooftop of a building, adding that nearly eight kilogrammes of explosive material was used in the attack. ‘Big ball of fire’ This was the first major attack on a campaign event for the July 25 general election. As an ambulance carried the body of Bilour, his 16-year-old son Danyal Bilour sat on the vehicle’s roof. He shouted, “Zinda hai Bilour, zinda hai [Bilour is alive]”. Peshawar city police chief Qazi Jameel said the number of casualties was high because the ANP event was taking place at a house in a narrow street. An AFP reporter saw human remains, shoes, broken chairs, and caps littered at the scene. Sartaj Khan, an ANP supporter, sustained wounds on his feet. “I lost consciousness after the blast,” he said. “The last thing I saw was a big ball of fire.” Another party worker, Yaseen Khan, said a deafening explosion rocked the compound as Bilour shook hands with supporters. Bilwal cancels election rally in Peshawar PPP chairmain Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has cancelled the PPP’s election rally to be held on Thursday in Peshawar. The grief over the loss of Haroon Bilour and the 20 others killed in the attack is unbearable, said Bilawal. The Election Commission has asked the military to help hold a “free and fair election” in the face of security threats. More than 380,000 personnel will be deployed for the elections, according to Major General Asif Ghafoor, the military spokesperson. Shocking news from Peshawar: Grieved to learn about shahadat of Haroon Bilour. Strongly condemn this barbaric act of terrorism on a public meeting. Its govt & ECP’s responsibility 2 provide fool-proof security 2 political parties leaders. My condolences to bereaved families & ANP — Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) July 10, 2018 COAS shares grief of Bilour family & ANP on condemnable targeting of Haroon Bilour & victims of heinous terrorist attk.“We are fighting against nexus of inimical forces which aren’t willing to absorb a peaceful & stable Pakistan. We remain undeterred & shall IA defeat them” COAS. — Maj Gen Asif Ghafoor (@OfficialDGISPR) July 11, 2018 Sad to learn of Haroon Bilour and 2 other ANP workers deaths and strongly condemn the terrorist attack at the ANP corner mtg in Peshawar. All political parties and their candidates must be provided proper security during their election campaigns by the State. — Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) July 10, 2018 Horrified to learn of Haroon Bilour’s murder. Few people have suffered as much personally from our failed strategic experiments with jihad as the Bilours & the ANP. — Ammar Rashid (@AmmarRashidT) July 10, 2018 May Allah bless your soul. Amen. Shaheed son of a Shaheed Father. May Allah give swift recovery to Danyal Haroon Bilour. https://t.co/Cp7DZQov8J — Asif Ghafoor (@peaceforchange) July 10, 2018 It is with shock & disbelief to hear about assassination of Haroon Bilour in Peshawar tonight. With strongest condemnation of the horrific suicide terrorist attack that also took lives of many others,I offer my deepest condolences to the Bilour family & ANP leadership.May he RIP! pic.twitter.com/sJGVU0GLXM — Dr Omar Zakhilwal (@DrOmarZakhilwal) July 10, 2018 I am saddened to hear of the assassination of Haroon Bilour. His father late Bashir Bilour served the people and embraced martyrdom the same way. I strongly condemn this atrocious act of terrorism & extend my profound condolences to his family, ANP leadership & his colleagues. HK pic.twitter.com/9vdkOSkkG0 — Hamid Karzai (@KarzaiH) July 10, 2018 Extremely saddened to hear about the death of Haroon bilour. My heartiest sympathy with the departed’s family and ANP workers at this difficult time. May Allah bless his soul. — Akhtar Mengal (@sakhtarmengal) July 10, 2018 Shocked to know about the death of Haroon Bilour in a suicide attack. A brave son of a brave father who never surrendered his philosophy instead of a number of attacks. Our heart felt condolences goes with the family of Haroon Bilour and may his soul rest in peace. pic.twitter.com/greYpweyzd — Mohsin Dawar (@mjdawar) July 11, 2018 Haroon Bilour s/o Bashir Bilour… Brave son of a Brave father… Martyred son of a Martyred father. What a tragedy for Bilour Family. Heart bleeds for them & other victims. May Allah give them strength. — Shahid Afridi (@SAfridiOfficial) July 10, 2018<doc-sep>
The banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) on Wednesday claimed responsibility for the Peshawar suicide blast that killed senior Awami National Party (ANP) leader Haroon Bilour and 19 others last night. Slain ANP leader Haroon Bilour. Bilour, whose father Bashir Bilour was also killed in a TTP-claimed suicide attack in 2012, was targeted on Tuesday night at an election gathering in the Yakatoot area. He was contesting the election from the PK-78 constituency. The ANP leader's funeral — held at Wazir Bagh — was attended by the ANP's central leadership, including Ameer Haider Khan Hoti, hundreds of party workers and supporters. Leaders from other political parties, including QWP's Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao and PPP's Humayun Khan were also in attendance. The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) spokesperson today announced that the election for PK-78 has been postponed due to the tragedy. 'Suicide blast' The blast took place when Bilour arrived at the site of a corner meeting. He suffered serious injuries and was shifted to Lady Reading Hospital (LRH) where he succumbed to his wounds. Rescue teams and law enforcement agencies rushed to site after the blast. Police and bomb disposal officials collected evidence from the blast site and initiated an investigation into the incident. People gather near the blast site following a suicide attack on ANP corner meeting in the Yakatoot area. —APP “According to our initial investigation, it was a suicide attack and Haroon Bilour... was the target,” said Additional Inspector General Shafqat Malik. He said that an initial probe suggested that a young boy blew himself up at the main entrance of the gathering when Bilour entered the venue. Death toll rises overnight The death toll was initially reported to be 13, but it rose to 20 overnight, according to Lady Reading Hospital Spokesperson Zulfiqar Ali Baba Khel. Scores of people suffered injuries as a result of the blast. The LRH spokesperson told media that 48 injured were discharged from the hospital after initial treatment, while 15 people including a minor girl were still being treated. The spokesperson added that the girl and five others were in a critical condition. More than 30 people were injured in the explosion. —DawnNewsTV Meanwhile, police arrested a suspect from the hospital. The suspect was among the wounded who were shifted to the hospital by rescuers, police sources said. The body of Haroon Bilour was later shifted to Bilour House where ANP workers gathered in large numbers to pay respect to their deceased leader. The funeral of Bilour will be offered at 5pm in Wazir Bagh area of Peshawar. Funeral prayers of nine blast victims were offered on Wednesday morning. They were laid to rest at Rehman Baba graveyard. JIT to submit probe report in 1 week Peshawar Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Qazi Jameel said that the provincial police chief has constituted a five-member Joint Investigation Team (JIT) to probe into the incident. The team has been tasked to submit its report within a week. The deputy inspector general of the Counter-Terrorism Department is heading the JIT. A First Information Report has been filed in by the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD). Law enforcement personnel have also launched a search operation in the city. ANP announces peaceful mourning ANP chief Asfandyar Wali, while speaking to reporters today, said that the party would observe three days of peaceful mourning, adding that the ANP would participate in the polls, come what may. He expressed his anger and anguish over the situation and said that he has asked his party workers to remain calm, but that being backed into a corner may be a catalyst for unrest. "It will not be a good sign for the country if party workers shun the policy of patience," he said. The ANP leader explained that the party is facing a complex situation, where the enemy can identify them but they are unable to identify their enemies. "We cannot declare every man with a beard to be a member of the Taliban," he said. Political parties under attack In 2012, Haroon Bilour's father Bashir Ahmed Bilour was also killed when a Pakistani Taliban bomber blew himself up in a party meeting in Peshawar. The following year in 2013, the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) had claimed responsibility for an attack at an ANP rally in Peshawar, in which 15 people were killed. The TTP spokesperson at the time, Ehsanullah Ehsan, had told journalists that Haroon was the target, but "unfortunately Ghulam Ahmed Bilour got injured".