Bombing Shakes Pakistan's Political Culture

But even if Bhutto decides to take the risk, it is unclear whether the government will allow her to hold the sort of mass rallies that are her staple. Pakistani officials say that in the interest of public safety, they will not permit street rallies and will instead limit political parties to holding tightly controlled public meetings.

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Officials have promised that parliamentary elections will be held as scheduled, meaning no later than mid-January. But those plans could go awry if there are more attacks.

A four-person international election assessment team led by former U.S. senator Thomas A. Daschle (D-S.D.) reported Sunday that political violence could increase in the run-up to the vote, with potentially disastrous consequences if candidates cannot get out to campaign.

"If the integrity of the elections is seriously compromised and not seen as representative of the will of the people, the nation could face increased civil conflict and the military could become further entrenched in the nation's political life," the U.S.-funded National Democratic Institute warned in a statement Sunday.

The government has suggested that instead of relying on mass rallies, candidates should take to the airwaves to make their case. But even as televisions become more prevalent in some parts of the country, televised pitches have limited impact in many areas, including the poor and rural northwest where Islamic extremists are especially active and electricity is often lacking.

"The majority of the people in my constituency don't have television sets in their home, so how will I reach them?" said Maulana Siraj-ul-Haq, a leader of an alliance of religious parties that has its strongholds in the northwest. "Television campaigns are a phenomenon of developed countries, and they also require a lot of money."

But the alternative may be costly in a different way.

The bodies of those killed in Thursday night's attack continued to be buried Sunday. In the northwestern village of Charsadda, Diyar Khan's family and friends laid him to rest in a simple service at which he was eulogized as "a martyr of democracy."

Khan was unusual: The 33-year-old was a die-hard backer of the secular-minded Bhutto in an area where most people support a hard-line religious party.

"He was a sincere worker of the Pakistan People's Party, and that's why he went to Karachi for Benazir Bhutto's welcome, despite his family's disapproval," said Hayat Ahmad, a cousin. Khan and hundreds of other Bhutto supporters were dancing around her truck when the bombs exploded.

Khan, a laborer, left behind a wife and six children, the youngest of whom was born just over a week ago. "His eldest son is just 11 years old, and now there will be no financial support for them," Ahmad said. "I don't know how his widow will cope."

Special correspondent Imtiaz Ali in Charsadda contributed to this report.