Death toll of suicide attack in Pakistan's tribal area rises to 37

ISLAMABAD, Feb. 16 (Xinhua) -- The death toll of a suicide attack in northwestern Pakistan's tribal area has risen to 37, local TV channel DAWN NEWS reported.

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.

ISLAMABAD, Feb. 16 (Xinhua) -- The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has made transparent arrangements for general elections, Secretary of ECP Kunwar Dilshad said on Saturday.

A private TV channel Geo quoted Kunwar Dilshad as saying that the election material of international standards had been sent to the concerned officials, and ballot papers would be handed over to the returning officers on Sunday. Full story

ISLAMABAD, Feb. 16 (Xinhua) -- Pakistan will deploy 81,000 military troops and 400,000 police personnel to ensure peaceful elections on Feb. 18, Interior Minister Hamid Nawaz Khan said on Saturday.

Addressing a news briefing here, Hamid Nawaz said paramilitary troops including Rangers and Frontier Constabulary would be deployed to further tighten the security. Full story

ISLAMABAD, Feb. 16 (Xinhua) -- Suspected militants on Saturday blew up three polling stations in Pakistan's tribal region, local TV channel Geo reported.

Three polling stations were destroyed in Khar, the center of Bajur tribal agency, said the report. Full story

ISLAMABAD, Feb. 16 (Xinhua) -- Pakistan's Chief of Army Staff Gen. Ashfaq Parvez Kayani was satisfied with the deployment of around 81,000 troops for maintaining stability during Monday's legislative election, the Dawn newspaper reported Saturday.