PESHAWAR, November 16,2024: Ilyas Ahmed Bilour, a senior leader of the Awami National Party (ANP) and former senator, passed away early Saturday morning in Peshawar at the age of 84.
The news of his death was confirmed by ANP leader Samar Haroon Bilour, who shared the sad news on social media.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Samar Haroon Bilour expressed her grief, saying, “Brother of Haji Ghulam Ahmed Bilour, Shaheed Bashir Ahmed Bilour, Aziz Ahmed Bilour, and father of Ghazanfar Bilour, Senator Ilyas Ahmed Bilour has passed away.”
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According to Ilyas Bilour’s brother, senior ANP leader Ghulam Ahmed Bilour, the former senator had been battling a kidney disease for several months and had been receiving medical treatment at a hospital in Peshawar. He passed away around 4:00 AM.
Ilyas Ahmed Bilour served as a member of Pakistan’s Senate from 2012 to 2018 and was a dedicated member of the ANP throughout his political career.
However, he stepped back from active politics after his son, Ghazanfar Bilour, joined the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), the ANP’s political rival.
In addition to his political career, Ilyas Bilour was involved in various international business and trade organizations.
He served as vice president of the Standing Committee of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) on Sustainable Development, Finance, and Trade for the Asia Pacific region, and was also active in the Islamic Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Ilyas Bilour was also elected twice as president of the Indo-Pak Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
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The funeral will take place at 2:00 PM on Sunday at Bilour House in Peshawar Cantonment, followed by his burial at the family’s ancestral graveyard.
The news of his passing has been met with an outpouring of condolences, including from former President Asif Ali Zardari, who expressed his deep sorrow at the loss.
The president offered his heartfelt condolences to the family members and prayed for courage for the bereaved family.
