ANP leader and NWFP Minister Bashir Ahmad Bilour on Wednesday survived a second attempt on life in which four people, including a woman, were killed here in Sarki Gate area of the walled city. According to sources and eyewitnesses, the minister was on his way to inaugurate a development work in his constituency, when his bodyguards spotted five armed men carrying s hand-grenades and heading towards him.
The police bodyguards opened fire on the armed men resulting in the killing of an old man passing by. Two among others killed were stated to be suicide bombers. After the attack the attackers fled and took shelter in a house while the security guards of the minister climbed on the roof of that house to catch the culprits.
But, finding no chance of survival, the attackers blew themselves up, which also claimed the live of a woman and a man in the house. The woman was stated to be newly married, who had returned to her parents for first time after the wedding. The other casualty was brother of the ill-fated woman.
Talking to Business Recorder, Noor Mohammad, Personal Secretary to the minister, said that the minister had left his office for inaugurating a newly constructed road at 3:15 pm.
The minister, he said. after performing inauguration of the Namak Mandi-Kohati Chowk Road, was walking to inspect another under-construction road of Kohat-Sarki, when a youth, aged 20-22, sporting a small beard, emerged from Mohallah Kashmiri, near Dita Sweet House, and started firing on the minister.
The firing spread a wave of concern among the people of the area. The busy shopping centres of Namak Mandi and other adjoining areas were gripped by fears and concern. It was second attack on the life of Bashir Ahmad Bilour, who had survived such attack six months back when a suicide bomber exploded himself at the entry gate of the Qayyum Stadium in Peshawar Cantonment.
NWFP Governor Owais Ahmed Ghani strongly condemned the attack on the minister and described it an act of high cowardice. Soon after, the Governor rang up Bilour and enquired after his health, and expressed his good wishes. He also wished early recovery of the injured of persons. NWFP Chief Minister Ameer Haider Hoti termed the militants attempt to kill Bilour a cowardly and regretful act.
In a statement, he said that anti-state elements were trying to spread terrorism in the province. He said that the perpetrators involved in such acts of terrorism would soon be brought to justice. He ordered the police to initiate inquiry into the attack immediately and arrest the culprits.