Bashir Ahmad Bilour

Bashir Ahmad Bilour (Pashto: بشیر احمد بلور‎; 1 August 1943 - 22 December 2012) was a member of the provincial assembly of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Senior Minister for Local Government and Rural Development of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.^[1]

Early life and education

Bashir Ahmad Bilour was born on 1 August 1943 in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa of Pakistan. He belongs to a prominent political and social Hindko family of Peshawar.^[2]

Bilour had a bachelor's degree in law. He was a member of Peshawar High Court Bar as a lawyer and took part in the active politics from the platform of Awami National Party since 1970.^[1]

Political life

In the 2008 elections, Bashir Bilour was elected as a member of the provincial assembly of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa with majority of the votes (over 4000) from PF-3, a constituency of Peshawar City. He remained MPA for 5 consecutive times. He was the parlimentary leader and was the only MPA of ANP even after the MMA wave when ghulam bilour and many others lost. He build peshawar beautifully with all major flyovers. He knew the daily problems of every person as he was among them and used his power to address them. Haider hoti was CM by title but the actual king and father was Bashir ahmed bilour as he was the ultimate national, international and local stalwart. Nobody had the courage to look into his eyes and even the CM was unable to question him over why he was investing heavily in peshawar. Bashir bilour was the most successful politician of KP as pathan voters change their vote often even ghulam bilour ( Haji saab ) faced defeats but bashir bilour was loved and till he died he never lost rather won with an astounding victory. Bashir khan was brave. But many asked why and how come he was so successful. He simply said i follow wali khans principle of not being selfish. "I have not eaten a single penny of the government" he used to say. When asked by his close aides. They said he would turn his A.C in the secretariat off and drink qawa only to minimise the costs for the government. These little measure were observed and caused his popularity as "FARZANDE PESHAWAR" or even "FAHKRE PAKTUNKHWA" after his shahadat.

War on Terror

No single attack was left unattended by bashir bilour. He was attacked 4 times and on the 5th attempt he paid the price. Before he died a deadly attack was done on the peshawar Bacha khan airport. His favourite and youngest son Danial narrated when asked on the grave yard of bashir bilour said " we I was in islamabad at my house when bashir khan's cook called that there was no driver and the 2 personal guards were ditched by bashir khan as he was in a extreme hurry, sat down to his beloved black camry and raced towards the airport all alone while firing was taking place". When asked by officials present at bilour house peshawar they confirmed this narrated incident did certainly take place and SSP called up bashir bilour's PA on requesting him to return as he could be shot. Bashir bilour was said to have laughed and said "there isnt a bullet made that can kill me" i am a true believer and the night at home cant be at grave and one at grave cant be at home. This was his favourite reply. This one event sums up bashir bilour's attitude and bravery towards terrorism. He stood firm at the airport to give encouragement to the armed forces.

awards and recognition

bashir bilour received hilal-e-shujaat in 2011 for bravery and it is the highest civil award for bravery. He was the first living legend to get this award while other recipents were the wifes of those martryed. Ban ki moon UN general secretary, osborune and many other international figures applauded his courage and rehman malik as interior minister saluted bashir bilours coffin on his historic nimaz-e-jinazah

Death and funeral

On 22 December 2012, Bilour was leaving after attending a meeting of ANP workers at a private residence in Peshawar, when he was attacked and critically injured by a suicide bomber at 6:15 PM. He was rushed to Lady Reading Hospital where he died at 7:40 PM. His secretary Noor Muhammad was also killed in the blast. This was the 5th attack on him and he bravely as usual had no guards and was martyred .^[3] The funeral prayer for him was held at Colonel Sher Khan Army Stadium on 23 Dec 12 withatl least 200 000 people despite threats,the city was closed as the fatherof peshawar, and face of KP assembly was no moreand he was laid to rest at Syed Hasan Pir graveyard in Peshawar.^[3] He left behind three sons: Haroon Bilour who is a renowned politician of peshawar and has served as mayor of peshawar in the recent past, Usman Bilour who was the president of KPCCI and died in office as the vice president of afghan pakistan joint chamber of commerce. He died due to a heart attack. and Danyal Bilour who is ought to become the successor of his grandfather and future leader of Peshawar due to his dedication in the youth of ANP and as well due to his devotion and dedication to the people of his slain grandfathers constituency PK 3.

See also

• Awami National Party
• Ghulam Ahmad Bilour

References