ANP leader Haroon Bilour among 12 killed in blast at Pak poll rally

At least 12 people, including Awami National Party (ANP) leader Haroon Bilour, were killed and 35 others injured in a suicide blast at an election gathering in Pakistan's northwestern Peshawar city tonight.

The blast took place when Bilour along with ANP workers gathered for a party meeting.

City police Chief Peshawar Qazi Jameel said 12 people including Bilour, the ANP candidate from PK 78 constituency in Peshawar city, died in the suicide blast at a corner election meeting and while 35 others were injured.

Initial reports said more than a dozen people had been injured in the explosion in the Yakatoot area.

Fireworks were being burst as Bilour arrived on the stage when the suicide bomber blew himself up.

Bilour suffered serious injuries and was shifted to hospital where he succumbed to his wounds, reports said.

Bomb disposal squad chief Shafqat Malik said 8 kilos of TNT explosive was used in the blast.

Rescue teams and law enforcement agencies have reached the site of the blast and investigations into the incident are now underway.

Bilour was the son of senior ANP leader Bashir Ahmed Bilour who was also killed when a Pakistani Taliban bomber blew himself up at a party meet in Peshawar in 2012.