Death toll in Rawalpindi attack rises to 14

But the march was called off by PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif after the Government agreed to reinstate former Chief Justice Iftikar M Chaudhary.

“Fifteen people have been killed and 18 injured in the attack,” Rawalpindi police chief Nasir Durrani said,including the bomber in the death toll.

Initially,police had said 10 people had been killed in the attack. Four more succumbed to their injuries in hospitals.

“We had prior information that there could have been an attack in Rawalpindi or Islamabad during the long march,” Interior Ministry chief Rehman Malik told reporters.

The bomber struck at a crowded bus and taxi stop at Pir Wadhai Chowk in Rawalpindi last night destroying several near-by cars and throwing the area into panic.

Pakistan has been hit by more than 200 suicide and bomb attacks which have killed more than 1600 people since July 2007.

The suicide attack took place despite strict security arrangements being put in place for the long march.

They also said the bomber’s explosives could have detonated prematurely before he could strike his intended target.

The head of the suspected suicide bomber had been found at the site,media reported. Many of the victims were hit by ball bearings packed into the suicide jacket.