TTP claims responsibility for attack on Haroon Bilour

PESHAWAR: Banned militant outfit TTP has today claimed responsibility for the suicide attack carried out on ANP leader Barrister Haroon Bilour.

People of every walk of life including senior politicians and civil society have strongly condemned the suicide attack on ANP corner meeting in Peshawar last night and termed it cowardice act of terrorism.
Chief of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan, Chairman Pakistan Peoples’ Party Bilawal Bhutto Zardari , President Pakistan Muslim League-N Shehbaz Sharif, ANP Chief Asfandyar Wali Khan, Governor Sindh Muhammad Zubair, former Chief Minister KP Pervez Khattak and others leaders have strongly condemned the suicide attack in Peshawar that killed at least 20 people including ANP leader Haroon Bilour and injuring 66 others.
In separate tweet and condolence messages, PTI Chief Imran Khan expressed sorrow over the death of ANP leader Haroon Bilour and other ANP workers in the blast and expressed sympathies with members of the victims’ families.
He called for the provision of foolproof security to all political leaders and candidates during their election campaigns.
PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has also expressed sorrow over the martyrdom of Haroon Bilour and others workers of ANP. Bilawal Bhutto said terror attack on pro-democracy individuals was a conspiracy.
PML-N President Shehbaz Sharif also grieved over the death of Haroon Bilour and strongly condemned this barbaric act of terrorism.
“Bilour family has suffered the worst terrorist violence and rendered great sacrifices for the country,” he noted.
Bashir Bilour Shaheed was a brave leader who was martyred in similar terrorists attack six years ago and the sacrifices of Haroon Bilour would not go waste, he said.
Pak Sarzameen Party (PSP) chief Mustafa Kamal said those elements, who had cloured their hands with the blood of innocents people in Peshawar, did not deserve mercy. He called the authorities for bringing the perpetrators of Peshawar blast to justice.
Cricket star Shahid Afridi also denounced the blast and termed Haroon Bilour was a brave son of a brave father whose sacrifice will not go waste.
ANP senior leader Mian Iftikhar Hussain has strongly condemned the attack on ANP rally and termed it an attempt to derailing democratic system in the country. He said ANP will fully participate in the election despite the attack.
Ex-Finance Minister Miftah Ismail, PTI leaders Asad Umar, Ali Haider Zaidi, Shah Mehmood Qureshi, Faisal Vowda, Firdus Asiq Awani, former Federal Minister Rehman Malik, ANP leader Wajid Ali Khan have grieved over the death of Haroon Bilour and others ANP workers in the blast.

A relevant piece published earlier: A suicide bomber attacked a corner meeting in the Yakatoot area of Peshawar this evening killing twelve including the ANP candidate Barrister Haroon Bilour and injuring 65. According to details the suicide bomber was present in the corner meeting and detonated 8kgs Trinitrotoluene near Haroon Bilour (contesting the election from PK-87 on ANP’s ticket) during a display of fireworks. He was taken to Lady Reading Hospital where he was announced dead on arrival. Bilour family had confirmed the death of Haroon Bilour in the explosion. Injured, that include Danyal Bilour teenaged son of deceased Haroon Bilour, have been taken to Lady Reading Hospital. It is pertinent to mention here that his father Bashir Ahmed Balour (Senior Provincial Minister) too was killed back in 2012 by a Pakistani Taliban suicide bomber during an ANP meeting in Dhaki Nal Bandi Area near Qissa Khawani Bazar of Peshawar. Taliban believe that secular parties like ANP support the ‘War on Terror’.

Prime Minister Justice (Retd) Nasir-ul-Mulk Tuesday strongly condemned the bomb blast in Peshawar, which caused loss of precious human lives and injuries. Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sardar Muhammad Raza condemning the attack held: “This shows the weakness of our security institutions and a conspiracy against transparent elections.” Speaker National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq has strongly condemned the bomb blast at an election rally ANP at Yakatott Area, Peshawar in which senior leader of ANP Barrister Haroon Bilour and others lost their lives. In his statement, the Speaker termed it a barbaric and shameful act of terrorism and expressed heartfelt grief and sorrow over the loss of precious lives. He said that the elements involved in such activities were the enemies of the humanity and wanted to sabotage the democratic process in the country. He said that such shameful acts could not deter firm resolve against terrorism. He called upon the authorities for bringing the perpetrators of Peshawar blast to justice. He sympathized with bereaved families and prayed to Almighty Allah to rest the souls of martyred in eternal peace. He also prayed for early recovery of injured.

Caretaker Chief Minister (CM) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Dost Muhammad Khan has said that all those elements responsible for suicide attack on Awami National Party (ANP) rally in Peshawar will be brought to justice. He said that a detailed investigation would be carried out to know if there was any security’s lapse. The CM said through such cowardice acts, the resolve of the nation could not be shaken in the fight against terrorism. He expressed these views after an emergency meeting about law and order situation following the blast. The meeting was attended by Chief Secretary, IGP KP besides other senior officials of Police and other departments. The CM directed the authorities concerned to examine all aspects of the blast so that perpetrators could be unmasked before the nation. He said holding of a free and transparent election is the prime responsibility of the caretaker government and every possible step will be taken to achieve this objective. Meanwhile, a five-member cabinet delegation of the caretaker government of KP visited the residence of Shaheed Haroon Bilour and expressed condolence with members of the bereaved family. The caretaker ministers include Zafar Iqbal Bangash, Fazl Elahi, Asadullah Chamakani and Muhammad Rashid Khan and expressed grief, sorrow over the death of Haroon Bilour. They prayed for the rest of the departed soul in eternal peace and grant courage to the bereaved family to bear this loss with patience. The Minister also prayed for early recovery of the blast’s injured and directed hospitals administration to provide best medical facilities to the victims.

Others took to the twitter:

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.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) announced to observe one-day mourning and postponed its political activities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, following the sad demise of Awami National Party (ANP) leader Haroon Bilour and other party workers. In a statement, Central Information Secretary and Spokesman PTI Fawad Chaudhry said that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) expressed solidarity with the Bilour family and leadership of ANP. He said that PTI was with Bilour family and ANP at this time of extreme grief. During one-day mourning PTI flags would be flown at half-mast, he said. Fawad Chaudhry prayed Almighty Allah to grant courage to Bilour family and ANP leadership to bear the irreparable loss with fortitude.