The death toll in a bomb blast at the rally of a political party in northwest Pakistan on Saturday rose to 30 Sunday, the official Associated Press of Pakistan reported.

The Awami National Party (ANP) was holding an election rally in Shabqadar Tehsil of Charsadda district in North West Frontier Province (NWFP) when the blast took place.

Interior Minister Hamid Nawaz Saturday confirmed that 14 people died in the blast and 24 others injured.

However, local TV channels said that the death toll would be further increased because some victims were seriously injured when they were rushed to the Lady Reading Hospital in Peshawar, capital city of NWFP.

No group has claimed responsibility for the blast.

The Interior Ministry earlier warned that political leaders in the country could probably be targeted by terrorists before the general elections slated on Feb. 18.

Hamid Nawaz said the government would take more measures to protect political leaders.

(Xinhua News Agency February 11, 2008)