Usman Bashir Bilour, 1972-2014

Politicians and businessmen alike mourn loss of ANP stalwart’s son.

PESHAWAR:

Senior Awami National Party (ANP) leader Usman Bashir Bilour, son of late Bashir Ahmad Bilour, died of a heart attack Tuesday morning in Islamabad.

“It was 2am in the morning when he breathed his last after a sudden heart attack,” His brother Haroon Bilour told The Express Tribune. “He had another heart attack a month ago and was hospitalised.” However, Haroon added, he seemed to be feeling better afterwards. “This episode proved fatal; he was rushed to a hospital but he died on the way.”

Twelve hours after his demise, Usman was buried amid thousands of mourners and supporters at his ancestral graveyard. People from different walks of life including politicians, businessmen and ANP workers participated in his last rites at Wazir Bagh. His soyem will be held at his home in Peshawar.

What’s in a name…

The Bilour family has witnessed several tragic deaths, including Usman’s demise. Bashir Bilour was killed in a suicide blast in 2012. His brother Ghulam’s only son Shabbir Bilour was shot dead in a clash between ANP and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) at a polling booth in 1997.

Born in 1972, Usman leaves behind his three siblings, a wife and a five-year-old daughter. He was married to the daughter of former federal minister Arbab Noor Muhammad.



The life of Usman

He was known more as an industrialist than a politician even though he hailed from a political dynasty.

Usman did participate in the general elections of 2002 as a joint PPP and ANP candidate. However, he lost the election to a candidate of Mutahida Majlis-e-Amal.

It is said he participated only after his uncle Ghulam Bilour was disqualified over his bachelor’s degree and because his brother was a district nazim.

A seasoned capitalist, Usman carried on his shoulders the responsibility of his family business. Active in the industrial sector, the young Bilour was president of the Pak-Afghan Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industries (PAJCCI) at the time of his death.

He was also a member of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chamber of Commerce and Industries (KPCCI) and remained its president from 2010 to 2011.  In respect, KPCCI has announced three days of mourning.

“He remained the most active businessman and took a number of positive steps for the community in the province,” Sharafat Ali Mubarak, a senior trader and former president of KPCCI, told The Express Tribune.

“The entire community is saddened by this loss,” said KPCCI President Fawad Ishaq. “We have lost a great leader and supporter of the business sector.”

The last tweet which he penned from his account had an aerial shot of Bashir and Mian Iftikhar. It read:

“Two brave soldiers of Pakistan Bashir Bilour and Mian Iftikhar who stood against terrorism and for their people.”

Published in The Express Tribune, December 10^th, 2014.