Pakistani former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto has been killed in a presumed suicide attack, a military spokesman has announced on TV.
Earlier reports said Ms Bhutto had only been injured and taken to hospital.
Ms Bhutto had just addressed a pre-election rally in the town of Rawalpindi when the bomb went off.
At least 15 other people are reported killed in the attack and several more were injured. Ms Bhutto had twice been the country's prime minister.
She was campaigning ahead of elections due in January.
'She expired'
The explosion occurred close to an entrance gate of the park in Rawalpindi where Ms Bhutto had been speaking.
PPP spokesman Farhatullah Babar initially said that Ms Bhutto was safe. But later he told the BBC that Ms Bhutto had died.
Another member of the PPP, Wasif Ali Khan, told the Associated Press news agency from the Rawalpindi General Hospital: "At 6:16 pm (1316 GMT) she expired."
Ms Bhutto returned from self-imposed exile in October after years out of Pakistan where she had faced corruption charges.
Her return was the result of a power-sharing agreement with President Musharraf in which he granted an amnesty that covered the court cases she was facing.
Since her return relations with Mr Musharraf have broken down.
On the day of her return she led a motor cavalcade through the city of Karachi. It was hit by a double suicide attack that left some 130 dead.
The PPP has the largest support in the country.
Earlier on Thursday at least four people were killed ahead of an election rally that Pakistan's former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was preparing to attend close to Rawalpindi.
Source: BBC
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Tags:
Latest Stories
-
UCL: Raphinha inspired Barcelona to win over Bayern
3 hours -
UCL: Darwin Nunez scores in Liverpool win over Leipzig
3 hours -
Canada to cut immigration numbers, government source says
3 hours -
Nigeria’s Tinubu names seven ministers, sacks five in cabinet reshuffle
3 hours -
Ghana engages partners on economic development at IMF meetings
3 hours -
Liam Payne planned to marry me, says girlfriend Kate Cassidy
3 hours -
Suspected drunk driver ‘almost struck’ Kamala Harris motorcade
3 hours -
At least 5 dead in attack at Turkish aviation company
4 hours -
Boeing at “crossroads” ahead of crucial strike vote
4 hours -
Vacant seats controversy: NPP MPs commended for ‘maturity’ amid NDC ‘provocation’
4 hours -
NSMQ24: KETASCO ‘mows’ Motown, leaves Mpraeso SHS behind to secure semi-final slot
4 hours -
Nigeria drops charges against Binance cryptocurrency boss
4 hours -
Finance Ministry ranked as most fiscally reckless public institution in Ghana
4 hours -
Ghana lost over GH₵4.9bn to financial irregularities in 2023 – IMANI Africa
4 hours -
Bawumia will provide free duty on vehicles for nurses – Napo
4 hours