Protests staged against Pak army over Haroon Bilour's death

Peshawar [Pakistan], July 13 (ANI): In the wake of a suicide blast that killed Awami National Party (ANP) leader Haroon Bilour, members of the party staged a protest in Peshawar on Thursday against the Pakistan Army.

The protesting members raised slogans slamming the army for the blast.

"Yeh jo dheshadgardi hai, iske peeche wardi hai," they said.

At least 20 people, including ANP leader Bilour, were killed, and 63 others injured in a suicide blast on July 10, as reported by the Express Tribune.

According to Geo TV, the explosion occurred in Peshawar's Yakatoot, where Bilour had arrived to address a gathering as part of his election campaign.

Bilour was contesting the upcoming July 25 General Elections from Peshawar's PK-78 constituency.

According to the capital city police officer, Qazi Jamil, around eight kilograms of TNT was used in the explosion.

Bilour, whose father, late Bashir Ahmed Bilour, was also killed in a suicide bombing in 2012, was taken to a hospital immediately after the blast. However, he succumbed to his wounds.

Reacting to the incident, Pakistan Peoples' Party (PPP) chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said that the attack was a conspiracy.

"The nation should be aware of the fact as to what do terrorists wish," Zardari added.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder, Imran Khan, urged political parties to beef up security for their leaders.

"Sad to learn of Haroon Bilour and 2 other ANP workers deaths and strongly condemn the terrorist attack at the ANP corner mtg in Peshawar. All political parties and their candidates must be provided proper security during their election campaigns by the State," Khan tweeted. (ANI)

This story has not been edited. It has been published as provided by ANI