PESHAWAR: A prominent figure of the Bilour family and former member of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly, Samar Haroon Bilour, on Wednesday quit the Awami National Party (ANP) and joined the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PMLN) after a meeting with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
“A little life update. Due to personal reasons, I am resigning from my membership of the Awami National Party. I continue to hold the Tehreek, its workers, and Wali Bagh in the highest regard,” Samar posted on Twitter after several journalists contacted her to confirm the news.
She added that after meeting the prime minister, she accepted his offer to join the PMLN to contribute towards the uplift of the country. “Third, it is my firstborn’s Nikah ceremony tonight, so I will reply to everyone who called and texted after Mommy Duty is over,” she tweeted.
Samar was elected as an MPA in a by-election shortly after her husband, Haroon Bilour, was martyred in a suicide attack during a rally ahead of the 2018 general elections. There are reports suggesting that she is likely to get a seat in the National Assembly on PMLN’s reserved seats for women.
Samar’s father-in-law, Bashir Ahmad Bilour, was a senior ANP leader who served as senior minister in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and headed the provincial chapter of the party. He was also martyred in a suicide attack near Qissa Khwani Bazaar.
Her departure from the ANP comes just days after veteran politician Ghulam Ahmad Bilour moved to Islamabad, reportedly after selling his long-time residence, Bilour House, to another politician from Peshawar. Both Samar and Ghulam Bilour had not been given any significant position within the party for some time.
However, Ghulam Bilour has clarified that he will remain with the ANP until his last breath. “Samar’s decision is her own, but I will continue to be a part of the ANP, where I have spent most of my life,” he said.
Bilour House—considered the second most important political venue after Wali Bagh—has been a hub of political activity in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa since the 1970s, hosting key leaders from across the country.
Ghulam Ahmad Bilour, known affectionately as Mashar Bilour or Haji Bilour, lost several elections to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf candidates in recent years. In the past, he served multiple terms in the National Assembly and held federal cabinet positions.
There was a time when the Bilour family had a strong presence in all tiers of government: Ghulam Bilour in the federal cabinet, Ilyas Bilour in the Senate, and Bashir Ahmad Bilour in the provincial assembly. Another brother, Aziz Ahmad Bilour, served as a senior civil servant.
Haji Bilour survived multiple assassination attempts, including suicide attacks over the last two decades. He lost his only son, Shabbir Bilour, to gunfire at a polling station nearly 30 years ago. His brother Bashir and nephew Haroon were both martyred in suicide attacks.
The political journey of the Bilour family began when Ghulam Bilour joined the ANP in the 1960s. He was later elected to the Senate and then to the National Assembly from NA-1, Peshawar, in a by-election after Aftab Ahmad Sherpao vacated the seat in 1988.
He was re-elected in 1990, defeating former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, and was appointed as a federal minister. However, he has not returned to the National Assembly since losing to PTI in recent elections.
Meanwhile, ANP Central President Senator Aimal Wali Khan stated that Samar Haroon Bilour’s decision to leave the party was not unexpected, as several colleagues had already informed him of the possibility.
He remarked, “If Samar Bibi has secured an MNA seat today, it is only due to the sacrifices of Shaheed Bashir Ahmad Bilour and Shaheed Haroon Ahmad Bilour.”In his statement from Bacha Khan Markaz, Aimal Wali Khan praised Ghulam Ahmad Bilour’s lifelong contributions to the party and said such a senior figure should not have to endure further trials at this stage in life.
He added that the truly tragic day was when he carried the coffins of Shaheed Bashir Bilour and Shaheed Haroon Bilour on his shoulders. Aimal Wali announced that the death anniversary of Shaheed Haroon Ahmad Bilour would be observed on Thursday at 11 a.m. at his grave, urging party workers to attend the ceremony with respect and devotion.