Caretaker PM Mulk, Army chief visit Bilour family, offer condolences

Caretaker PM Mulk, Army chief visit Bilour family, offer condolences

Peshawar (Staff Report): Caretaker Prime Minister Nasirul Mulk and Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Javed Bajwa on Thursday visited Bilour House in Peshawar to offer condolences to family members of martyred Awami National Party (ANP) leader Haroon Bilour.

While talking to the family, Bajwa said, “Bilour family has stood firm in the war against terrorism with great sacrifices during national effort. We have come a long way in our challenging journey to peace and destination isn’t far.”

At least 20 people including Awami National Party (ANP) leader Barrister Haroon Bilour lost their lives and more than 6o people were injured in an explosion which occurred late Tuesday night in the Yakatoot neighbourhood moments after 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.

He was contesting the election from the PK-78 constituency.

The banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) on Wednesday claimed responsibility for the suicide blast.

Bilour, whose father Bashir Bilour was also killed in a TTP-claimed suicide attack in 2012.

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) spokesperson today announced that the election for PK-78 has been postponed due to the tragedy.

The death toll was initially reported to be 13, but it rose to 20 overnight.