Former senator and senior Awami National Party (ANP) leader Ilyas Ahmed Bilour passed away early on Saturday morning. He was 84.

His funeral prayers will be held tomorrow at 2pm at Wazir Bagh, Peshawar, confirmed ANP leader Samar Haroon Bilour.

Ilyas Ahmed Bilour, born on July 1, 1940, was undergoing treatment for kidney-related ailments at a private hospital in Peshawar for several months, according to his brother and senior ANP leader Ghulam Ahmad Bilour.

A longstanding member of ANP, Ilyas Bilour represented the party in the Senate in 2012 and was associated with the political ideology of Bacha Khan. Known for his unwavering principles, he endured hardships, including imprisonment, while steadfastly supporting democratic values.

Bilour hailed from a prominent political family; he was the brother of ANP leaders Ghulam Ahmad Bilour and the late Bashir Ahmad Bilour. Despite his significant contributions to ANP, his political activities declined after his son, Ghazanfar Bilour, joined the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).

Political leaders and dignitaries across Pakistan expressed condolences over his demise.

President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif extended their sympathies to the Bilour family. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif praised the late senator’s contributions, stating, “Ilyas Ahmed Bilour has unforgettable services for the welfare of the people. His absence creates a void that will be hard to fill.”

Federal minister Abdul Aleem Khan and Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfaraz Bagti also expressed grief, lauding Bilour’s dedication to politics and public service.

ANP Central President Amil Wali Khan described Ilyas Bilour as a principled and practical leader who upheld the party’s flag in all situations. “The Bilour family has always sacrificed for the principles of democracy,” he said, adding that Bilour’s death is an irreparable loss to ANP and Pakistan’s political landscape.