PESHAWAR – In a major political shift, Samar Haroon Bilour, a prominent Awami National Party (ANP) leader and widow of martyred politician Haroon Bashir Bilour, has announced her decision to join the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).
Sources say the PML-N promised Samar Haroon Bilour a reserved Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Assembly seat, and they are likely to include her name among six to be submitted after the Supreme Court verdict.
Confirming the development during a recent interview, Samar Haroon Bilour revealed her plan to meet Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and formally join the PML-N. This is a new chapter for me, she said, showing confidence in the PML-N’s vision for national development and governance.
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She made history in the 2018 by-election from Peshawar by becoming the first woman to win a general seat in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly. Her term continued until January 2023. In 2020, the ANP named her provincial secretary of information, strengthening her political profile in the province.
Her political roots run deep. Irfanullah Khan Marwat, her father, has served as a senior politician in Sindh since 1989. He held major portfolios including transport, health, home, education, and mines and minerals.
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Observers see her defection as a serious blow to the ANP. The party has already been weakened by the rise of PTI and internal fragmentation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Haroon Bashir Bilour, her late husband, was killed in a suicide bombing during a 2018 election rally in Peshawar.
With her decision to join PML-N, Samar Haroon Bilour may play a pivotal role in reshaping the region’s political landscape.
PM welcomes Samar Haroon Bilour into PML-N
Samar Haroon Bilour, along with political figures Saeeda Jamshed and Jamshed Mohmand, met Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Islamabad to formally join the PML-N. Adviser to the Prime Minister Rana Sanaullah, Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs and PML-N KP President Engineer Amir Muqam, Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Sardar Yousaf, Minister for Public Affairs Rana Mubashir, and provincial general secretary Murtaza Javed Abbasi also attended the meeting.
During the meeting, She praised Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s leadership, particularly his focus on economic stability and a public-friendly budget. She expressed confidence in the country’s development under his direction.
She reaffirmed her commitment to serving the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa alongside the central and provincial leadership of the PML-N, including Amir Muqam. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif warmly welcomed Samar Haroon Bilour into the party and appreciated her dedication to public service, expressing his best wishes for her future in the party.
Reserved seat offer, ANP rift fuel switch
Sources claim that Samar Haroon Bilour agreed to join the PML-N after being assured of a reserved seat in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly. The assurance reportedly came in light of a recent Supreme Court decision, which requires PML-N to submit six additional names to the Election Commission for reserved seats.
According to party insiders, Samar Haroon Bilour’s name is expected to be among the new nominees.
Sources also revealed that prior to joining the PML-N, she was in talks to join the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP). However, the ANP leadership reportedly intervened, prompting the PPP to withdraw the offer and refuse her inclusion.
Additionally, senior ANP figure Ghulam Ahmad Bilour has expressed displeasure over Samar Haroon Bilour’s decision to leave the party, further highlighting the internal tensions surrounding her departure.
