Taliban carried out suicide blast at rally

The Pakistani Taliban has said it was responsible for a suicide bombing at a rally that killed a secular politician and 20 others two weeks before nationwide elections.

Its spokesman said they targeted the Awami National Party rally in the north-western city of Peshawar, killing Haroon Ahmed Bilour, a candidate for a seat in the provincial legislature. Another 65 people were wounded. Islamic extremists grew to despise the ANP when it ruled the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province from 2008 to 2013.