PESHAWAR – Samar Haroon Bilour, a former Awami National Party (ANP) leader who recently joined the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), submitted her nomination papers on Thursday for one of the two vacant women’s reserved seats in the National Assembly.
She filed her papers at the Election Commission’s office in Peshawar, alongside the wife of former provincial assembly member Jamshed Mohmand, who also submitted her nomination.
Speaking to the media outside the ECP office, Samar Bilour said she had been in talks with PML-N for over a year. “This was not a sudden decision—it followed year-long discussions,” she clarified.
Read More: Samar Haroon Bilour joins PML-N
Explaining her decision to switch parties, she said, “I want to do something meaningful for my city. Those imposed on Peshawar have done nothing except loot and plunder.”
Samar Bilour met with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif a day earlier before formally announcing her decision to join PML-N. She said her decision followed the retirement of veteran politician Ghulam Ahmad Bilour, whom she referred to as the head of her family.
“Ghulam Ahmad Bilour stepped back from active politics. After his withdrawal, I decided to join the PML-N,” she added.
She also paid tribute to her former party and its fallen leaders. “I have deep respect for ANP and its leadership. Today marks the death anniversary of Haroon Bilour. We carry the memories of our martyrs in our hearts,” she said.
Criticising the provincial government, Samar said, “What’s happening in the name of governance in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is nothing short of a circus.” She announced her intention to contest the next general election from her ancestral constituency in Peshawar on a PML-N ticket.
