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Bashir Ahmed Bilour, a leader of Pashtun nationalist party, was among the eight killed during Taliban's suicide attack at Peshawar on Saturday.
The veteran politician was attending a gathering of Awami National Party, secular Pashtun nationalist party, when a suicide bomber ripped through the people. During the attack at least eight people including Bashir Bilour were killed while another 20 persons sustained injuries.
While talking to Rediff.com via telephone from an undisclosed location, Ihsanullah Ihsan, central spokesperson of Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan said, "Our men have targeted the rally of ANP as they are our declared enemies. We are fighting a war to establish Islamic system in this country while the secular party ANP is one of our hurdles; one of our main targets was Bashir Bilour."
He further said, "Our pardon for Ghulam Ahmed Bilour will be remained."
It is apt to mention here that Federal Minster for Railways Ghulam Ahmed Bilour, the elder brother of Bashir Bilour, has been pardoned by the Taliban after he announced head money for the maker of anti-Islam blasphemous movies.
In September Ghulam Ahmed Bilour announced that $100,000 award would be given to the person who kills the maker of the anti-Islam blasphemous film.
Responding to it TTP removed him from the list of their targets while the US and UK banned the minster to fly to these countries.
Bashir Ahmed Bilour was born on August 1, 1943 in Peshawar, the provincial capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in Pakistan. His family is affiliated to Awami National Party, the secular Pashtun nationalist party.
Bashir Bilour started taking part in active politics way back in 1970. During the current government of ANP he was a senior minister for local government and rural development of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.
Bashir Bilour has a bachelor degree in law and was also a member of Peshawar High Court Bar. In 2008 he was elected as minister of provincial assembly for the fifth consecutive time from his hometown.