People carry the coffin of the provincial minister for local government, Bashir Ahmad Bilour, who died of his wounds at Lady Reading Hospital in Peshawar December 22, 2012. – Reuters Photo

ISLAMABAD: Following the sad demise of ANP leader and senior Khyber Pakhtunkhwa minister Bashir Ahmed Bilour on Saturday, Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf has announced to observe one-day national mourning and said flags would be flown at half-mast on Sunday, DawnNews reported.

President Asif Ali Zardari and all prominent political leaders of the country have deplored the suicide attack at the Awami National Party (ANP) meeting in Peshawar, resulting in the death of Bashir Ahmed Bilour along with police personnel and other party workers.

In separate statements, they expressed heartfelt condolences to the families of the people who lost their loved-ones in the deadly attack including the grieving family of the senior provincial minister.

Bilour’s funeral prayer will be offered at Sher Khan Stadium at 2 pm Sunday while the burial will take place at his native cemetery on Syed Pir Hussain Road in Peshawar.

The KP government has announced a three-day while the ANP called for ten-day mourning in honour of the deceased leader.

Meanwhile, Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and government of Sindh have announced one day each while Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) called for three-day mourning.

Moreover, ANP’s Balochistan chapter has called for a strike in Quetta on Sunday. They also have announced to observe three-day mourning in the province.

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