Pakistanis on Sunday mourned the death of anti-Taliban politician Bashir Ahmad Bilour in a suicide bombing, with political leaders and media calling his killing ‘naked terrorism’ and asking the military to stop seeing some militants as ‘assets to be used to further foreign policy interests in Afghanistan and India.’ Politicians from the ruling coalition led by the PPP and opposition parties condemned the killing, and Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf declared a nationwide day of mourning.
The banned Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan claimed responsibility for on Saturday's attack on Bilour that also left eight others dead and nearly 20 injured, saying he was targeted to avenge the killing of a tribal elder who had trained many militants.
Bilour, 69, was a tireless campaigner against the Taliban and extremism in the restive Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province, which is ruled by his Awami National Party.
Despite being targeted twice by suicide bombers, he was usually among the first officials to arrive at the site of terror attacks.
ANP chief Asfandyar Wali Khan, who too has been targeted by the Taliban, said Bilour's death was a loss not just for the party ‘but for all liberals and for Pakistan.’
He told reporters: ‘This will not stop at the ANP. These terrorists are against the democratic system. They will target everyone one by one.’
The ANP has lost some 700 workers, including several senior leaders, since it came to power in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa in 2008.
The banned Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan claimed responsibility for on Saturday's attack on Bilour that also left eight others dead and nearly 20 injured, saying he was targeted to avenge the killing of a tribal elder who had trained many militants.
Bilour, 69, was a tireless campaigner against the Taliban and extremism in the restive Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province, which is ruled by his Awami National Party.
Despite being targeted twice by suicide bombers, he was usually among the first officials to arrive at the site of terror attacks.
ANP chief Asfandyar Wali Khan, who too has been targeted by the Taliban, said Bilour's death was a loss not just for the party ‘but for all liberals and for Pakistan.’
He told reporters: ‘This will not stop at the ANP. These terrorists are against the democratic system. They will target everyone one by one.’
The ANP has lost some 700 workers, including several senior leaders, since it came to power in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa in 2008.