Toll rises to 36 in Pakistan rally suicide bombing (Second Lead)

ISLAMABAD - At least 36 people were killed Monday when a suicide bomber attacked a political rally in Pakistans’ restive northwest.

According to locals, the blast occurred near the stage at a rally organised by the Awami Natioanl Party (ANP) in Timargarah, the main town of the Lower Dir district.

Police sources said it was a suicide attack and the attacker “came on foot and detonated himself”, Aaj News reported.

The rally was organised as a “thanksgiving” for changing the name of the region to Khyber Pakhtoonkhaw. The blast took place when the rally passed near a police checkpost and a passport office in the main market area.

“Our party had arranged a thanksgiving day to celebrate the changing of the name after 200 years of colonial legacy,” ANP spokesman Zahid Khan told reporters.