PESHAWAR, Dec 24: A candlelight vigil was held at a park near Peshawar Press Club on Monday to remember the victims of the suicide bombing at Dhaki Nalbandi here on Saturday.
Representatives of different political parties and non-governmental organisations and their children took part in the candlelight. Prominent among them were Idress Kamal, Dr Khadim Hussain, Maryam Bebi and Zar Ali Khan Afridi.
They were also carrying a portrait of late ANP leader and former senior minister Bashir Ahmed Bilour and shouted slogans against terrorism and for peace.
On the occasion, Mr Idress expressed concern over the killing of innocent people in the bombing and stressed the need that all the political parties, especially those led by Pakhtuns, should devise combined strategy to get rid of the menace of terrorism.
“The politicians should talk to the establishment to devise a concrete plan for bringing an end to the curse of militancy otherwise the politicians would face the same fate one by one like Bashir Ahmed Bilour,” he feared.
Criticising the federal government, he said Pakistan People’s Party had no clear policy to uproot terrorism, adding former prime minister Benazir Bhutto had clear concept in this regard.
The civil society organisations also demanded of the government to increase the amount of compensation up to Rs1 million so that the bereaved families could get some relief.
The participants also prayed to Allah to rest the departed souls in eternal peace.
Meanwhile, Khyber Law College held a condolence reference for its deceased alumni Bashir Ahmed Bilour. The reference was attended by principal Law College Prof Manan, faculty members and students.
The speakers termed the death of their brave law graduate as a great loss to the national politics and expressed their solidarity with the bereaved family members. They also showed sympathy with the sons of late Bashir Ahmed Bilour, Usman and Haroon Bilour, who also happened to be students of the same college.
Abaseen Column Writers Association convener Ziaul Haq Sarhadi, provincial Minister for Agriculture Arbab Ayub Jan also condemned the killing of innocent people in the suicide blast.
On the other hand, Pakhtun Students Federation (PSF) on Monday held a protest demonstration against the assassination of Bashir Ahmad Bilour and vowed to continue fight against scourge of terrorism in the province.
Holding banners and placards inscribed with sentences paying tribute to the slain leaders, large number of PSF activists gathered outside Peshawar Press Club and shouted slogans in favour of Awami National Party and its leaders.
Speaking on the occasion, PSF central chairman Bashir Sherpao said ANP workers were followers of the Bacha Khan’s non-violence policy and they were not afraid of nefarious designs of militants and attacks on people.
“We will never surrender before any anti-state element and will continue war to uproot militancy in the province,” he vowed.
MARDAN: Leaders of various political parties on Monday condemned the killing of Bashir Ahmad Bilour in a suicide blast at Qissa Khawani Bazaar.
Himayat Ullah Mayar, MNA of the Awami National Party, said Mr Bashir Bilour was a brave Pakhtun leader who always remained on the frontline in the war against the miscreants and had determined not only to uproot militancy from the Pakhtun society but also to bring the new generation out of the darkness of extremism and to enlighten them with education and knowledge.
He said Mr Bilour was the leader who had taken the anti-militancy war as a challenge and had adopted the strategy to “do or die” as the slain leader knew that the anti-terror war was the war of survival for Pakhtuns.
Former provincial health minister and president of Aman Jirga Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Syed Kamal Shah advocate asked all political, religious and liberal forces to get united against the militants.
The district information secretary of PTI Raiz Bainda Kheil Khan stated wrong policies of incumbent government were to be blamed for the worsening law and order situation.
CHARSADDA: The activists of Pakhtun Students Federation (PSF) and workers of ANP staged protest demonstration against the killing of Bashir Ahmed Bilour.
The enraged workers set tyres on fire and blocked the Charsadda-Peshawar road. Addressing the protesters, the ANP provincial leader Mirza Ihsanullah, PSF provincial leader Sangeen Shah Mohammadzai, Waheed Durrani, Maroof Shah and others said the death of Bashir Bilour and other innocent people in the suicide attack was a great tragedy and loss for the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. They said Mr Bilour was brave and great leader of Pakhtun nation, adding he laid down his life for the cause of Pakhtuns.
SWABI: Leaders of various political parties and lawyers community paid rich tribute to the assassinated ANP leader Bashir Ahmad Bilour on Monday, saying he was a parliamentarian of the highest caliber.
Former MNA Rehmanullah recalled that about four months back when Mr Bashir Bilour visited the district he stressed upon the party leaders to work for the people. “The leaders who work for the people always remained in their minds and hearts,” he said while quoting the slain leader.
Maulana Fazal Ali, Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-F leader and former provincial education minister, said assassination of Bashir Bilour was a great loss to the country.
Masood Jabar, former deputy general secretary of Qaumi Watan Party, said MR Bilour would be remembered forever because he laid down his life for a cause.
Meanwhile, the Swabi bar association observed Monday as black day while mourning the assassination of Mr Bilour. The lawyers’ community stayed away from the courts.