Suicide Attack Kills At Least 27 in Northwest Pakistan

A suicide attack after an election rally has killed at least 27 people and wounded more than 90 others in Pakistan’s restive northwest tribal region.

Pakistan’s Interior Minister Hamid Nawaz Khan says a suicide bomber rammed his car near a candidate’s election office in the town of Parachinar, in the Kurram tribal region along the Afghan border. The attack occurred Saturday following an election rally held by supporters of slain former prime minister Benazir Bhutto’s Pakistan People’s Party.

Saturday is the last day of campaigning ahead of Monday’s parliamentary elections, and the attack is the latest in election-related violence.

The government has deployed more than 80,000 troops across Pakistan to maintain security.

Next week’s vote will determine the makeup of Pakistan’s National Assembly and provincial assemblies, and could determine the future of President Pervez Musharraf.

Mr. Musharraf’s presidency is not being contested, but if parties that back him lose control of the legislature, he could be impeached.

Opposition parties charge the vote will be rigged and have threatened demonstrations if they believe there are irregularities.

On Friday, Democratic U.S. Senator Joe Biden said the U.S. should cut off aid to Pakistan if the vote is not fair. Biden traveled to Pakistan with two other Senators to monitor Monday’s elections.

In other election-related violence earlier Saturday, police say militants blew up a polling station in the Bajaur tribal region. No casualties were reported.

And police in the southern city of Hyderabad today said they arrested at least one suspected militant and seized a suicide jacket and explosives, foiling an attack during the polls.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.

by VOA News

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