Bilour laid to rest as thousands attend funeral

Thousands Sunday attended funeral for a Pakistani provincial minister, who was killed in a Taliban attack in Peshawar yesterday.

Bashir Ahmed Bilour, senior minister in Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa province, and seven other people were killed when a bomber blew himself up shortly after he spoke to his supporters.

Taliban claimed responsibility for killing Bilour, who had been critical at the militants for their attacks.

Bilour, wrapped in the national flag, was brought to an army stadium where his funeral prayers were held. A large number of political leaders, ministers and the people attended the funeral. He was later laid to rest in his ancestral graveyard near Peshawar.

Strict security measures were taken and a heavy contingent of police and security forces were deployed to the area.

Bilour’s secretary and a local police official were among the dead.

Bomb Disposal Squad (BDS) officials said a suicide bomber detonated the explosives strapped to his body when the minister came out of the meeting place.

Bilour was 69 and had survived at least two assassination attempts and other acts of reprisal.

The United Nations Secretary General Ban-Ki Moon has condemned the suicide blast that killed nine people in Peshawar including Khyber Pakhtunkhwa minister Bashir Ahmed Bilour.

In a statement issued here, the Secretary General expressed grief over the killing of the minister and eight others.

He vowed to stand by government and people of Pakistan in their fight against terrorism and assured support of the United Nations.

The US embassy Islamabad also condemned the killing of Bashir Bilour and the ambassador said, “We are deeply saddened at the death of Senior Minister Bashir Ahmed Bilour and offer our condolences to his family and friends”.

“He was a courageous man and an outspoken voice against the politics of fear and terror. We applaud his commitment to democratic values, which led him into harm’s way more than once,” the US ambassador said..

“The U.S. Embassy joins the people of Pakistan in condemning this outrageous attack, and hope that his vision of a secure and prosperous Pakistan will continue in the work of those that he inspired,” he said.

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Posted by Tahir Khan on Dec 23 2012. Filed under Latest News, National, Pakistan. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.