At least 25 people were killed and over 30 injured in a suicide attack on an election rally in northwestern Pakistan on Saturday, sparking fears about the security of politicians on the campaign trail ahead of the February 18 general election.

The blast occurred at a rally at Nakai near Charsadda town that was being addressed by senior Awami National Party (ANP) leader Afrasiab Khattak, who escaped without injury.

North West Frontier Province Health Minister Kamal Shah said 25 people were killed. Police officials said over 30 people were injured, several of them critically.

Federal Interior Minister Hamid Nawaz Khan said, “I have been told that most probably it was a suicide attack.”
The blast sparked panic at the rally and people ran helter-skelter to flee from the venue. The injured were rushed to a nearby hospital, where the condition of seven persons was described as critical.

‘Part of conspiracy’

ANP chief Asfandyar Wali Khan said the blast was part of a conspiracy to postpone the elections.
No group claimed responsibility for the blast, which occurred as political parties resumed their campaigning for the parliamentary polls after the end of a 40-day period of mourning for former premier Benazir Bhutto.
Bhutto was assassinated after addressing an election rally at Rawalpindi on December 27.  The violence that followed her killing forced the Election Commission to defer the polls from January 8 to February 18.