Pakistan: Suicide bombing kills 14 including ANP candidate Haroon Bilour

Peshawar, July 11: A suicide blast in poll-bound Pakistan claimed 14 lives, including that of Awami National Party (ANP) candidate Barrister Haroon Bilour. The bomber blew himself up late on Tuesday before a meeting at the YakaToot.

The explosion took place moments after Bilour arrived at the spot to address supporters. Bilour was set to contest the July 25 elections from the Peshawar's PK-78 constituency.

The Pakistan media reported that at least 8 kilograms of TNT was used in the blast. Capital City police officer Qazi Jamil told reporters that at least 54 people were wounded in the blast.

Bilour, who was killed, is the son of former senior minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, who was himself killed in a 2012 Taliban suicide attack. The bombing came hours after a national military spokesman warned of security threats ahead of national elections scheduled for July 25.

Police official Shafqat Malik told AFP news agency that "according to our initial investigation, it was a suicide attack and Haroon Bilour was the target."