The death toll of a suicide attack in northwestern Pakistan's tribal area has risen to 46 on Sunday, local TV channel DAWN NEWS reported.

 

 

Supporters of Pakistan People's Party (PPP) participate in an election campaign in Islamabad, capital of Pakistan on Feb. 16, 2008.

 

The explosion took place on Saturday near the election office of an independent candidate in Parachinar of Kurram tribal agency, the report said, adding that 37 people were killed and dozens of others injured in the attack.

 

The political agent of Kurram Agency, Zaheerul Islam was quoted by the Associated Press of Pakistan as saying that the bomb was planted in a car parked outside the election office of national assembly candidate Riaz Hussain Shah. He was addressing an election meeting inside the office when the blast occurred.

 

Those injured were rushed to a local hospital and several were in critical condition. An emergency has been declared in the Agency hospital.

 

Secretary of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) Kunwar Dilshad has said that all arrangements have been made to ensure a peaceful and transparent parliamentary election in the country on Feb. 18.

 

About 81,000 military troops and 400,000 police personnel will be deployed to ensure that the election go peacefully.

 

 

People gather at the site of a suicide car bomb attack in Parachanir February 16, 2008.

 

(Xinhua News Ageny February 17, 2008)