Suicide bomber kills 20 at election rally in northwest Pakistan
By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
A suicide bomber struck Saturday at an election rally in northwestern Pakistan, killing at least 20 people and wounding more than 20, officials said.
The blast occurred at a rally of the Awami National Party - a secular, ethnic Pashtun group - in the town of Charsadda in the turbulent North West Frontier province, where Islamic extremists operate.
Interior Ministry spokesman Javed Iqbal Cheema put the death toll at 14 with more than 20 injured.
"I think it was a suicide attack and very close to the stage (of the meeting)," Interior Minister Hamid Nawaz said, adding that all party leaders were safe.