**Peshawar:** Ilyas Ahmed Bilour, former senator and prominent political figure from the Awami National Party (ANP), has passed away at the age of 84, confirmed ANP leader Samar Haroon Bilour on social media platform X.
In a post, Samar Haroon Bilour wrote, “Brother of Haji Ghulam Ahmed Bilour, Shaheed Bashir Ahmed Bilour, Aziz Ahmed Bilour, and father of Ghazanfar Bilour, [former] Senator Ilyas Ahmed Bilour has passed away.”
Ghulam Ahmed Bilour, the deceased’s brother and senior ANP leader, confirmed the passing, explaining that Ilyas Bilour had been suffering from kidney disease and had been undergoing treatment at a hospital in Peshawar for several months. He passed away early on Saturday morning, at 4 AM.
Ilyas Ahmed Bilour served as a senator from 2012 to 2018 and was a lifelong member of the ANP. However, he distanced himself from active politics after his son, Ghazanfar Bilour, joined the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), the ANP’s political rival.
Regarding the funeral arrangements, Samar Haroon Bilour stated that the funeral prayers would be held at 2 PM on Sunday at Wazir Bagh in Peshawar, after which the deceased will be laid to rest in the family’s ancestral graveyard.
Throughout his political career, Ilyas Bilour held several important positions, including serving as Vice President of the Standing Committee of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) on Sustainable Development, Finance, and Trade for the Asia-Pacific region. He was also involved in the Islamic Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
As a businessman, Ilyas Bilour was a life member of the SAARC Chamber of Commerce and Industry and had served as Chairman of the Pak-Asia Business Council. He was also elected twice as President of the Indo-Pak Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
In reaction to the news, former President Asif Ali Zardari expressed deep sorrow over Ilyas Bilour’s passing. The former president extended his condolences to the bereaved family and prayed for their strength during this difficult time.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also expressed his condolences, praising Ilyas Bilour’s dedicated service to the people. In a statement, the prime minister said, “Ilyas Ahmed Bilour’s remarkable contributions to public welfare are highly commendable. His political legacy and services will be remembered.”
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi also expressed his grief, acknowledging that Ilyas Bilour’s political and social contributions were widely recognized and appreciated.
