A TRAUMATIC INTERREGNUM IN PAKISTAN
MILITARY ‘OVERSEEING’ A SILENT COUP
2018-07-12 10:43
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The cowardly assassination of two functionaries of the Awami National Party in Peshawar in a suicide attack just a fortnight before the national elections, including Haroon Bilour, one of the top leaders of ANP, spreads a darkening canopy over Pakistan’s polity. The three embraced martyrdom in their struggle against terrorists and feudal-military interests that are committed against the gradual opening up of a transparent parliamentary democracy. The tragic incident that killed at least 19 and injured 65 – mostly in their twenties and one aged 12 - happened at Qissa Khwani when Bilour and others were proceeding towards the venue of an election meeting. He filed his nomination as a candidate from Qissa Khwani that includes the blood-stained ground. His father, Bashir Ahmad Bilour, a former senior minister and ANP leader, embraced martyrdom similarly in December 2012. Haroon was contesting from the very constituency on which his father ran for the party. According to eyewitnesses, Haroon, the keynote speaker, received a warm welcome by ANP supporters with fireworks on his arrival at the venue.