A suicide bomber killed nine people including a provincial government official at a political rally in Pakistan held by a party which has opposed the Taliban, officials say.
The rally in Peshawar, the capital of north-western Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, was held by the Awami National Party, whose members have been repeatedly targeted by the Taliban.
Among the dead was Bashir Bilour, the second most senior member of the provincial Cabinet, said Ghulam Ahmed Bilour, the politician's brother and federal railways minister.
More than 20 other people were injured in the blast, said local police officer Sabir Khan.
Mr Bilour was leaving the rally after delivering the keynote speech when the attack happened, said Nazir Khan, a local Awami National Party leader.
"There was smoke and dust all around, and dead and wounded people were lying on the ground," he said.
The suicide bomber was on foot, said another police officer, Imtiaz Khan.
Mohammed Afridi, a spokesman for the Pakistani Taliban, claimed responsibility for the attack in a telephone call to reporters.
He said the militant group has formed a special wing to attack members of the Awami National Party and the Muttahida Quami Movement, another political party which has opposed the Taliban.
Mian Iftikhar Hussain, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa information minister and a member of the Awami National Party, said both he and Mr Bilour had repeatedly received threats from militants. He condemned the attack and said the government needed to intensify its battle against the Taliban.
The Press Association, photo by llyasansri