Remembering Bashir Ahmed Bilour

The Frontier Post

Bashir Ahmed Bilour, Senior Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was not only a seasoned politician but also one of only few politicians in the country who had high regard not only within his own party but also in all other political parties of the country. Even he had high regard in the voters of his opponents as he never wasted a minute to reach the needy people from whatever party they belonged to. Bashir Ahmed Bilour was son of Bilour Din Khan and was born on August 1, 1943. Belonged to a notable political and social Hindku family of Peshawar, Bilour had bachelor's degree of Law and was also member of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Bar Association and Peshawar High Court Bar Association and used to cast his vote in the elections of lawyers' bodies. He got his early education from Government Higher Secondary School No. 1 Peshawar Cantt. After doing Matriculation he got admission in famous Edwards College Peshawar and got graduation degree from the said college. Then for higher education he got admission in University of Peshawar and got LLB degree. Bilour was famous for his social contacts with his voters and used to visit different parts of the city without fearing terrorists despite of the fact that there were several death threats to him from the terrorists. He had survived two life attempts from terrorists before the attack on Saturday in which he was killed. The legendary leader and staunch follower of Pakhtun rights and till his death kept on uttering the words for the betterment of people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He followed the footsteps of his father in politics and joined Awami National Party (ANP) in 1970. In 2008 General Elections he was elected as Member of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly for the record fifth time which showed the confidence of his voters in his personality. He had won his seat with majority votes from PF-3, a constituency of Peshawar City. Soon after the elections he also took oath as a Senior Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkha for the 4th time. He also remained President of ANP Khyber Pakhtunkhwa twice. Bashir Ahmad Bilour was unique personality in the sense that he never lost any election throughout his career. He became member of provincial assembly for the first time in 1990; then in 1993; 1997; 2002 and 2007. He had also announced not to contest for MPA slot in the next general elections. He was appointed as Minister for C&W in 1990 and 1993 and as Minister for Irrigation in 1997. Bashir Bilour, had repeatedly termed the fight against terrorism as 'our own battle' and was few of the politicians who had voice openly against the miltants. His death is a loss not only to ANP, not only to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa but also to the whole country which has lost another brave son of the soil in war against terrorism. ANP workers and activists condemned the killing of Senior Minister Bashir Ahmad Bilour and term his death a memorable lost for the country. Most of the workers at Lady Reading Hospital Peshawar were not control their feelings when they heard the news of the death of Senior Minister Bashir Ahmad Bilour. Meanwhile civil society member, traders and from every walks of life shows their grief and sorrow over the death of senior minister and give tribute to him in the fight against terror and prayed for his deported soul in rest. Bashir Ahmed Bilour not only lost his life in the incident but also lost his long standing friend, colleague and personal secretary Haji Noor Muhammad who remained loyal to his Senior Minister and even died with Bashir Ahmed Bilour. Bashir Ahmed Bilour remained influential in efforts to make Peshawar a city of flowers again and kept on working day and night for the betterment of Provincial Capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He will always remain in the heart of people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in general and people of Peshawar in particular and whenever the stories of brave, honest, hardworking, loyal and intelligent politicians would be written his name would be written among the top listed politicians and human beings.