POLITICS & POLICY MAKING

Samar Haroon Bilour, a prominent figure of the Awami National Party (ANP) and member of the influential Bilour family, has formally joined the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).
According to sources, Samar Bilour met Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Islamabad, where Federal Minister Amir Muqam was also present. During the meeting, she officially announced her decision to join the ruling party.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif warmly welcomed her into the party ranks, stating that her inclusion would significantly strengthen the PML-N in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. “Samar Bilour brings with her a strong political legacy, courage, and commitment to public service. Her addition is a positive step toward consolidating democratic values in the province,” he said.
A Trailblazer in KP Politics
Samar Bilour, widow of the martyred ANP leader Haroon Bashir Bilour, made history in 2018 by becoming the first woman in 16 years to win a general seat in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly. She was elected through a by-election and served as a Member of the Provincial Assembly from October 24, 2018, to January 18, 2023.
During her tenure, she remained an active legislator and was appointed as the Provincial Secretary Information of the ANP in June 2020. Her strong voice on women’s rights, education, and provincial autonomy was widely recognized during her time in the assembly.
Her decision to switch political camps is being seen as a significant shift in KP’s political landscape, especially given her association with the Bilour family—a name long associated with ANP’s progressive and nationalist politics.
Political analysts suggest that PML-N is looking to make inroads in KP ahead of upcoming electoral contests, and Samar Bilour’s induction could play a strategic role in that effort.