Islamabad: A provincial minister survived an attempt on his life when his security guards foiled a suicide bomber in Peshawar on Wednesday.
Awami National Party (ANP) leader Bashir Bilour, a senior minister in the North Western Frontier Province (NWFP) government, was touring his constituency in Namak Mandi when a youth emerged from a crowd and tried to kill him.
Bilour told reporters that witnesses had seen the youth was wearing a suicide jacket, which failed to detonate. "The youth shouted 'Allah-o-Akbar' and tried to blow up the jacket but it did not explode. I saw a grenade in his hands. Then my guards opened fire and he ran away," said Bilour.
Bilour said the attempt to kill him was a conspiracy by people trying to destabilise the country.
Bilour had survived another attempt on his life in November last year when a suicide bomber targeted a sports complex in Peshawar where he was present. Three persons were killed and nine others injured in that attack.
The suicide bomber blew himself up near the gate of the complex after he was prevented from entering the facility by security forces.
The attack occurred shortly after concluding ceremony of Pakistan's inter-provincial games, which was attended by Bilour and other leaders.
The Pakistani Taliban have targeted leaders and workers of the ANP, which rules the NWFP. Dozens of party activists have been killed by the militants, particularly in the restive Swat valley.
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