Islamabad, Feb 15 : At least 27 people were killed and many others were injured in a suicide blast outside an election office of an independent candidate backed by the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) in Parachinar today, Pakistan Interior Ministry said.

The ministry confirmed that the blast was suicide attack, reported The News.

Another security official said the blast occurred outside the office of local PPP candidate Riaz Hussain in Parachinar, the main town in the Kurram tribal region.

The blast occurred hours before the campaigning for the February 18 general election was to end midnight. (ANI)