Sixth death anniversary: Rich tributes paid to Haroon Bilour

PESHAWAR: Awami National Party (ANP) provincial president Mian Iftikhar Hussain on Wednesday said Haroon Bilour laid down his life for the restoration of peace but did not bow before the militants.

He was speaking at a gathering at Bacha Khan Markaz to pay tribute to Haroon Bilour on the occasion of his sixth death anniversary.Haroon Bilour lost his life along with 20 other party workers when a suicide bomber hit an ANP election-related gathering in the Yakatoot locality of Peshawar on July 10, 2018.

The Bilour family observed the death anniversary of Haroon Bilour on July 08 at Bilour House in Peshawar two days before the actual date due to Muharram.Mian Iftikhar said the militants martyred Haroon Bilour along with other party workers in a suicide attack during an election campaign.

He said that despite threats to his life, Haroon Bilour had not confined himself to his home and like his brave father he embraced martyrdom while fighting the terrorists. “The void created after the deaths of Bashir Ahmad Bilour and his son Haroon Ahmad Bilour would never be filled in the Pakhtun nationalist party who were the sincere followers of Bacha Khan and Abdul Wali Khan,” he said and added that the ANP would remember Haroon Bilour with golden words.

Mian Iftikhar said the Bilour family had rendered matchless sacrifices for the restoration of peace and prosperity of the people, saying that Haroon Bilour was associated with Pakhtun nationalism and followed Bacha Khan’s non-violent philosophy since his childhood and played active role in Pakhtun Students Federation in his student life. “Haroon had become a popular leader among his people and was elected as town Nazim of Peshawar City at a young age,” he said and added that Haroon was a kind gentleman with a noble personality. The ANP leader saluted the young son of Haroon Bilour and his widow Samar Haroon Bilour who had continued the mission of Bashir Ahmad Bilour and Haroon Ahmad Bilour while serving the people of the province, particularly the residents of Peshawar through active politics and social services.