ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif warmly welcomed Samar Haroon Bilour, a prominent leader of the Awami National Party (ANP), as she officially joined the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) during a meeting held at the Prime Minister’s House.
The departure of Samar Bilour from ANP marks a significant shift in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s political landscape, as she is the widow of Haroon Bilour and daughter-in-law of the late Bashir Bilour. Her joining PML-N is seen as a major development in regional politics.
During the meeting, Samar Bilour praised Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s leadership, highlighting his role in fostering economic stability and national growth. She commended the government’s pro-people budget and its dedication to the country’s development, according to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office.
“I aspire to see Khyber Pakhtunkhwa emulate the progress of Punjab and the federal level,” Samar Bilour stated, expressing her commitment to serve the people of her province alongside the party leadership.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif welcomed her addition to the party, extending his best wishes for her future endeavors and lauding her dedication to public service. He also paid homage to the Bilour family’s longstanding sacrifices and their contributions to Pakistan’s democratic journey.
Accompanying Samar Bilour were Saeeda Jamshed and Jamshed Mohmand. The gathering was attended by senior PML-N officials, including Adviser to the Prime Minister Rana Sanaullah, Federal Minister for Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan Affairs and PML-N KP President Engineer Amir Muqam, Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Sardar Muhammad Yousaf, Minister for Public Affairs Rana Mubashir, and PML-N KP General Secretary Murtaza Javed Abbasi.
Previously, Samar Bilour, a former Member of the Provincial Assembly (MPA), had distanced herself from ANP activities due to disagreements within the party leadership.
Her decision to join PML-N comes just a day ahead of the seventh anniversary of her husband Haroon Bilour’s martyrdom, who lost his life in a suicide attack during the 2018 election campaign.
