There has been an explosion at an election rally in Pakistan shortly after former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto had addressed it.
A suspected suicide attack at a rally of Benazir Bhutto's Pakistan People's Party (PPP) has left at least 15 people dead, police say.
At least eight people have been killed in the suspected suicide blast in the city of Rawalpindi. Ms Bhutto is reported to be unhurt.
A PPP spokesman has told the BBC that Ms Bhutto was injured. It is not clear how badly. She had just addressed the rally in the town of Rawalpindi.
Earlier on Thursday at least four people were killed in election violence close to the city.
National and provincial assembly elections are due on 8 January.
Ms Bhutto returned from self-imposed exile in October.
In October some 130 people were killed in an attack on Ms Bhutto's cavalcade when she returned to the country.
Exit gate
It was one of the worst incidents of violence in a year of deteriorating security in Pakistan.
"The blast took place after she had left the rally," a spokesman for Ms Bhutto, Jameel Soomro, said. "She is safe."
'Deafening sound'
At least eight people were killed by the explosion, reporters on the scene say. Some police officials say 15 people were killed.
Thursday's blast happened at one of the entrance gates to the Liaquat Bagh park in Rawalpindi.
Ms Bhutto had been addressing supporters of her Pakistan People's Party (PPP) in a park in the garrison city.
Benazir Bhutto on the campaign trail
Police say a suspected suicide attacker detonated the bomb at one of the exits to the park as people were leaving.
PPP spokesman Farahtullah Babar said Ms Bhutto was only some 50 metres away when the bomb exploded, the Associated Press news agency reports. "She had just crossed the gate when we heard a deafening sound."
Mr Babar said that Ms Bhutto was safe, but subsequently PPP party members have said that Ms Bhutto was injured in the blast and taken to hospital.
Ms Bhutto returned from self-imposed exile in October after years out of Pakistan where she had faced corruption charges.
When Ms Bhutto returned to Pakistan in October, her cavalcade was hit by a double suicide attack that left some 130 dead.
When Ms Bhutto returned to Pakistan in October, her cavalcade was hit by a double suicide attack that left some 130 dead.
The PPP has the largest support in the country.
The PPP has the largest support in the country.
Pakistan has been beset by violence in recent months.
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.
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.
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