PESHAWAR: People from different walks of life expressed condolences as senior Awami National Party leader, former senator and leading businessman Ilyas Ahmad Bilour passed away after protracted illness here on Saturday morning. The 84-year-old remained under treatment for a kidney disease at a private Peshawar hospital for several months, according to his elder brother and ANP stalwart Ghulam Ahmad Bilour. He said the funeral prayers would be held today (Sunday) at 2pm in Wazir Bagh, Peshawar. Mr Ilyas began political career from the platform of the ANP and actively participated in politics for many years before quitting it in Dec 2021 when his son, Ghazanfar Bilour, joined the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf. He was the brother of former ANP minister Bashir Ahmed Bilour and the uncle of Haroon Bilour. Leaders remember him for dedication to public service, democracy Mr Ilyas was born in 1940 in Peshawar and got his early education from Government Primary School, Mohallah Khudadad, graduated from Edwards College, and got the MBA degree from Preston University, Peshawar. For the expansion of his family business, he moved to Rawalpindi on Aug 8, 1965, and quickly gained popularity in the business community. In 1969, he was elected the president of the Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry. He also endured hardships during his long political career and served solitary confinement in the main Rawalpindi jail. Mr Ilyas served as the ANP senator four times. He also remained the presidents of SaarcChamber of Commerce, and India-Pakistan Chamber of Commerce, and a lifetime member of Saarc central committee. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and President Asif Ali Zardari expressed grief over the death of Mr Ilyas In a condolence message, the prime minister prayed for the deceased. “Ilyas Bilour’s remarkable services for the welfare of the people are commendable,” he said. He said as a senator, Mr Ilyas represented the people with excellence. “The ANP leader’s political contributions will be remembered,” he said, Mr Sharif said that the space created in the political landscape due to the death of Mr Ilyas would be difficult to fill. In a message, the presidentexpressed deep grief and sorrow over the death of Mr Ilyas and extended condolences to his family. ANP leader Asfandyar Wali Khan, ANP central president Senator Aimal Wali Khan, provincial president Mian Iftikhar Hussain and other leaders extended condolence messages to the family of Mr Ilyas. Mr Asfandyar said the death of Mr Ilyas was an irreparable loss not only to the Bilour family but to the entire Pakhtuns nation as well. He said Mr Ilyas dedicated his life to public service and democratic values and played an important role in every phase of the national movement. “Ilyas Bilour maintained his commitment to the party with courage and bravery even under the most difficult circumstances. He bravely and steadfastly faced all kinds of challenges in different eras,” he said. Mr Asfandyar said dictatorship and terrorism did not make any difference to the determination and courage of Mr Ilyas and his family. “With the death of Ilyas Bilour, a great vacuum has been created in the politics of Peshawar which will not be possible to fill. His sacrifices in upholding the principles and politics of nationalism will be remembered in a thousand words,” he said. Mr Aimal said Mr Ilyas kept the flag of the party and Pakhtun national movement high in all kinds of situations and suffered imprisonment and hardships but remained firm with the ideology of Bacha Khan. “Ilyas Bilour was not only a successful businessman and political leader but also possessed a sincere, hardworking, and fearless personality,” he said. Office-bearers of the Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry also expressed grief over the death of Businessman Forum leader Mr Ilyas and said his services for the business community would always be remembered. The SCCI announced the suspension of all activities to mourn his death. SCCI president Fazal Moqeem Khan, senior vice president Abdul Jalil Jan and vice president Shehryar Khan expressed deep grief over the death of Mr Ilyas and said the vacuum caused by the death would take a long time to fill. They appreciated the services of the ANP leader for the welfare of the business community and said besides being a successful businessman, he was a good human being as well.