News Desk |
On 10th July, 2018, a bomb blast took place shortly before midnight, in the University town of Peshawar. Subsequently, the bomb disposal squad stepped in to confirm that the blast was in fact, a “suicide bomb attack”, where around 8-10 kilograms of explosives were the ancillary.
After Haroon Bilour’s death conspiracy theories have surfaced that Bilour was going to win the elections, therefore he was targeted.
Awami National Party (ANP) leader Haroon Bilour and 20 others were martyred, leaving behind nearly three dozen injured in a suicide bomb attack targeting an ANP rally.
The attack took place near the vehicle of Haroon Bilour, son of late ANP leader, Bashir Bilour, in the area of Yaka Toot. The ANP leader was walking towards the stage in the corner of the meeting, organized for his election campaign when the blast took place.
Read more:
Bilour was to contest the upcoming elections from the constituency of PK-78 when this incident took place. The casualties at the scene, were then driven the Lady Reading Hospital (LRH), where medics reported around thirteen people announced dead and many in recovery.
According to the police, Bilour was among the wounded and the six people who arrived in a critical condition, who were later reported dead.
For ANP, it must seem like history repeating itself. Haroon Bilour was a famous personality known for not only being a member of the ANP, but recognized as the son of late, former ANP leader, Bashir Ahmed Bilour, who was martyred in the same way, at the hands of a suicide bomber, in a blast in Peshawar, 2012.
Few days back, the National Counter Terrorism Authority expressed its concerns about the growing security threats in Pakistan. As elections are approaching, people and government of Pakistan are in a frenzy attempting to be vigilant of these security threats.
Subsequently, the bomb disposal squad stepped in to confirm that the blast was in fact, a “suicide bomb attack”, where around 8-10 kilograms of explosives were the ancillary.
Some election campaigns in Bannu, Lakki Marwat, Karak, etc., revealed threats to a few journalists as well, due to the unfavorable security conditions.
These concerns were not merely a threat, as last week in Bannu, a candidate of (MMA), Malik Sherien along with seven others suffered at the hands of a bomb blast.
Read more:
This isn’t a novel situation for ANP, since they’re history of suffering from attacks is detailed. Ghulam Bilour, the deceased uncle of martyr, Haroon Bilour, was attacked by a bomber in a campaign for general elections of 2013.
Prior to this incident, Bashir Ahmed Bilour, in 2012, was attacked by a suicide bomber, as he headed out of an ANP meeting, scheduled at a private residence.
In 2010 and 2008 similar incidents took place, as assassination attempts targeted at President of ANP, Asfandyar Wali Khan using the same tool to execute him.
Evidently, a scenario is in place, that someone is trying to send a message as the general elections are approaching. However, reports suggest that TTP has claimed responsibility of the attack.
But in fact who is the invisible hand, trying to frighten the people, government and political parties of Pakistan. Is ANP the only one on the target list, or do other parties need to watch out for their backs, as well.
After Haroon Bilour’s death conspiracy theories have surfaced that Bilour was going to win the elections, therefore he was targeted. Thus indicating that TTP is used as a weapon by competing parties. – Mian Iftikhar Hussain
Political parties must ensure that proper security arrangements are made in public gatherings. The interim government needs to utilize scarce resource to ensure fruitful results in the upcoming elections.
Pakistani public, government, political parties, all must be vigilant at all times, as security forces need to help, ensure, safe the General elections 2018.