Polling Station Attacked by Suicide Bomber

Twenty seven people were killed at a polling station in norrth western Pakistan when a suicide bomber rammed his car into the station. It was reported that most of the people at the polling station belonged to Pakistan People's Party, PPP, the same party Benazir Bhutto was part of.

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — A homicide bomber rammed his car into an election office Saturday in northwestern Pakistan, killing at least 27 people and wounding more than 90 others, a government official in the tribal region said. A witness described bodies lying in pools of blood.

The attack in Parachinar, a volatile area bordering Afghanistan, came two days ahead of parliamentary elections that are considered crucial to restoring democracy following eight years of military rule under President Pervez Musharraf.

Most of the victims appeared to members of the opposition Pakistan People's Party, formerly headed by slain opposition leader Benazir Bhutto, said Mushtaq Hussain, an administrative official in the Kurram area.

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At least 27 people were killed and more than 90 others injured when the bomber apparently "rammed his explosive laden car into the election office," he said.

"Several of our party members are lying in a pool of blood," said Zafar Ali, a party supporter at the scene. "We are taking the injured and dumping them into pickup vans to bring them to the hospital."

It was not immediately clear who was to blame for the blast. Monday's elections will take place against a backdrop of rising Islamic militancy throughout Pakistan, and many candidates have been discouraged from holding large rallies. Security fears were running highest in lawless tribal areas along the Afghan border.

Earlier Saturday, suspected militants were blamed for the bombing of a polling station. It damaged the building but no casualties were reported.