Bashir Bilour has been martyred in the suicide attack

RADIO PAKISTAN

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Senior Minister

Bashir Ahmed Bilour and eight others were martyred in a suicide attack in Qissa Khwani Bazar of Peshawar on Saturday evening. According to reports‚ suicide bomber blew himself up soon after Bashir Bilour came out of the house of an ANP leader after attending the party meeting. Personal Secretary to Bashir Bilour and SHO Kabli Police Station Abdul Sattar Khan are also among the dead. Eighteen people have also been injured in the blast. President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf have expressed his deep sense of sorrow and grief over martyrdom of ANP leader Bashir Ahmad Bilour in a bomb blast in Peshawar. In a statement the President said the sacrifice of Bashir Bilour against terrorism would not go waste. The President said the entire nation is united against terrorism and its resolve would not weaken. He said political services of Bashir Bilour would always be remembered. President Zardari has telephoned ANP Chief Asfandyar Wali and expressed condolence over the death of Bashir Ahmed Bilour. President Zardari has also directed Interior Minister Rehman Malik to reach Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Prime Minister said that he was a courageous person and sacrificed his life for his conviction. In a message of condolence to the family of Mr Bashir Ahmad Bilour‚ the Prime Minister said that "this is not a loss to his family or Khyber Pakhtunkhwa but a national loss". PPP Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has also expressed grief and sorrow over the tragedy. Minister for Information and Broadcasting Qamar Zaman Kaira has said that politicians should follow the footstep of Bashir Bilour who steadfastly stood against terrorism. In an interview he condemned the terrorist attack and said there is need to strengthen unity in our ranks to face the challenge.