PESHAWAR: As the nation has been struck by the worst-ever soul-destroying attack on Army Public School and College, the people will remember Bashir Ahmed Bilour, a brave leader, who laid his life while leading from the front against Taliban militants.

Bilour, who was killed in a suicide attack by Taliban on December 22, 2012, opposed Taliban militants at a time when they were at their peak.

Awami National Party, which ruled Khyber Pakhtunkhwa from 2008 to 2013, suffered greatly owing to terrorism.

Bashir Bilour, a senior minister in the ANP government, used to reach the sites of bomb blasts and terrorist attacks to sympathise with the affected people and condemn militants in hardest words.

It was a time when the provincial capital witnessed devastations. Bomb, grenade and suicide attacks had become regular features.

Politicians were afraid to speak against Taliban and even many thought it better no to issue statements after bomb attacks.Bashir Bilour, the younger brother of ANP senior leaders Ghulam Ahmed Bilour and Ilyas Bilour, pursued popular politics and won elections from his provincial constituency seven times in a row.

He was a man who liked to show up in public. Going to the sites of blasts and visiting patients at the hospitals was a job he did as member of Khyber Palchtunkhwa cabinet.

He was a true follower of Bacha Khan, whose non-violence philosophy had now been widely acclaimed. He fell prey to a suicide attack when he had just left a part y`s meeting in Qissa Khwani Bazaar.

Even his family members tried to restrict his movement but he believed that there was a day fixed for death. He didn`t care for life. His death had sent shockwave across the country and in his party, which had been the main target of Taliban. ANP has paid the price in shape of assassination of its leaders and workers.

ANP president Asfandyar Wali Khan survived a suicide attack in October 2008 in his home district Charsadda. Militants killed Mian Rashid Hussain, the lone teenage son of the then information minister Mian Iftikhar Hussain inJuly 2010. Ghulam Ahmed Bilour survived a sulcide attack in April 2013. The attacl(s by Taliban were meant to disrupt the ANP`s campaign for May 2013 elections.

Syed Agil Shah, another senior leader of ANP, also survived attacks. Early this year, Mian Mushtaq was killed in Peshawar. Taliban are in no mood to spare ANP. The party happened to be ideological enemy of militants as it wanted resolution of matters through non-violence while the latter believed in use of force and violence.

Pakistan People`s Party, a coalition party ofANP in the province at that time, remained unhurt but Taliban pursued their perennial opponents so aggressively that ANP candidates didn`t carry out electioneering. More than 150 people were killed by Taliban in attacks on election rallies.

ANP has planned to mark second death anniversary of Bashir Bilour at Nishtar Hall on Monday at 1pm to send a message across the country that the party is opposed to terrorism in all its forms and will continue its campaign to ensure that people live peacefully.