Originally published by the Voice of America (www.voanews.com). Voice of America is funded by the US Federal Government and content it exclusively produces is in the public domain. February 16, 2008 Suicide Attack Kills at Least 37 in Northwest Pakistan ------------------------------------------------------ http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=1B444E0:A6F02AD83191E1606E44D6CB72366792B3350E090FE6A6E8& Interior Minister says suicide bomber rammed car near candidate's election office in town of Parachinar, in Kurram tribal region along Afghan border Local residents gather at the site of bomb explosion in Parachinar, a volatile tribal area in northwest Pakistan, bordering Afghanistan, 16 Feb 2008A suicide attack after an election rally has killed at least 37 people and wounded more than 90 others in Pakistan's restive northwest tribal region. Pakistan's Interior Minister Hamid Nawaz Khan says a suicide bomber rammed his car into a crowd outside a candidate's office in the town of Parachinar, in the Kurram tribal region, along the Afghan border. The attack occurred Saturday following an election rally held by supporters of slain former prime minister Benazir Bhutto's Pakistan People's Party. Today is the last day of campaigning ahead of Monday's parliamentary elections, and the attack is the latest in election-related violence. The government has deployed more than 80,000 troops across Pakistan to maintain security. Interior Minister Khan says with more than 64,000 polling stations it is difficult to protect all of them from suicide bombers. Next week's vote will determine the makeup of Pakistan's National Assembly and provincial assemblies, and could determine the future of President Pervez Musharraf. Mr. Musharraf's presidency is not being contested, but if parties that back him lose control of the legislature, he could be impeached. Opposition parties charge the vote will be rigged and have threatened demonstrations if they believe there are irregularities. On Friday, Democratic U.S. Senator Joe Biden said the U.S. should cut off aid to Pakistan if the vote is not fair. Biden traveled to Pakistan with two other Senators to monitor Monday's elections. In other election-related violence earlier Saturday, police say militants blew up a polling station in the Bajaur tribal region. No casualties were reported. Separately today, police in the southern city of Hyderabad said they arrested at least one suspected militant and seized a suicide jacket and explosives, foiling an attack during the polls. And in the southwestern city of Quetta, police used tear gas today to disperse a rally organized by members of an opposition party coalition boycotting the vote. Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters. .