Death toll rises to 46 in Pakistan suicide blast
Monday, 18 February 2008
ISLAMABAD, Feb 17 (AFP): The death toll from a suicide bombing at an election rally in Pakistan's tribal belt rose to 46 Sunday, a security official said.
"Now the death toll is 46. There are around 50 critically wounded people. They are being evacuated to Peshawar," the official told the news agency.
He said there had been initial confusion about the number of dead because bodies were so badly damaged in the Saturday attack. Some additional victims also died in hospital from their wounds, the official said.
On Saturday, an interior ministry spokesman gave the toll as 37 after the attack in the northwestern tribal town of Parachinar, bordering Afghanistan.
Security officials earlier told the news agency that the suicide bomber attacked a Pakistan People's Party meeting outside the office of a local election candidate. The candidate's family said he was safe.
Residents said the town was tense and streets were empty ahead of Monday's parliamentary elections.
Paramilitary soldiers had taken up positions in the town to control violence.
Angry supporters of the candidate Saturday night burned down several shops and damaged some government buildings.
"Now the death toll is 46. There are around 50 critically wounded people. They are being evacuated to Peshawar," the official told the news agency.
He said there had been initial confusion about the number of dead because bodies were so badly damaged in the Saturday attack. Some additional victims also died in hospital from their wounds, the official said.
On Saturday, an interior ministry spokesman gave the toll as 37 after the attack in the northwestern tribal town of Parachinar, bordering Afghanistan.
Security officials earlier told the news agency that the suicide bomber attacked a Pakistan People's Party meeting outside the office of a local election candidate. The candidate's family said he was safe.
Residents said the town was tense and streets were empty ahead of Monday's parliamentary elections.
Paramilitary soldiers had taken up positions in the town to control violence.
Angry supporters of the candidate Saturday night burned down several shops and damaged some government buildings.