Islamabad, July 9, 2025: In a major political shift, Samar Bilour, a prominent member of the influential Bilour family, has parted ways with the Awami National Party (ANP) and officially joined the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) after a meeting with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
Samar, the widow of slain ANP leader Haroon Bilour and daughter-in-law of the late Bashir Bilour, is expected to be considered for a reserved seat in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly, according to party sources. She previously served as a Member of the Provincial Assembly (MPA) from 2018 to 2023, elected in a by-election on an ANP ticket.
The move is seen as a significant setback for ANP, especially in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where the Bilour family holds considerable political and emotional influence due to their long-standing service and sacrifices for democracy and peace.
The Bilour family’s political legacy is marked by tragedy and resilience. On July 10, 2018, Haroon Bilour—ANP’s candidate for the provincial assembly—was martyred in a suicide bombing during an election rally in Peshawar’s Yakatoot area. The attack, claimed by the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), killed 20 others and injured over 48.
Earlier, in December 2012, Haroon’s father, Bashir Bilour, a senior ANP leader and sitting provincial minister, was also killed in a suicide attack in Peshawar. Both father and son are remembered as martyrs of democracy who stood firm against extremism.
Samar Bilour’s political realignment signals shifting dynamics in KP politics and may impact ANP’s electoral strength ahead of future polls.
