'Unfazed' by attack, ANP vows to continue election campaign

PESHAWAR: Awami National Party (ANP) has vowed to continue its election campaign despite deadly attack on its party leader Haroon Bilour in Peshawar on Tuesday.

At least 21 people including ANP leader Haroon Bashir Bilour were killed when a suicide bomber blew himself up during a corner meeting in Peshawar’s Yakatoot area.

President ANP Asfandyar Wali Khan announced the resumption of election campaign after three days of mourning and peaceful protest. He underlined that real aim of his party is to win the elections despite all hindrances that come their way.

He insisted that his party must contest the elections now and win it.

Responding to a question about the deadly attack on the party leader, “These are terrorists we are dealing with. You can’t compare umpires with terrorists. The main problem is that they [terrorists] know who all of us are but we don’t know about them.” He added that he challenged his rivals to face him off instead of instead of using such malicious tactics.

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has postponed election on a provincial assembly seat in Peshawar, PK-78, after a suicide blast that killed the ANP leader.

According to the Commission, the election in PK-78 (Peshawar-13) will be held later along with by-elections which will take place after the general elections scheduled on July 25.