With security agencies hunting for clues to Friday’s attack, which targeted but missed a close ally of President Pervez Musharraf, a doctor said many of the victims suffered severe shrapnel wounds.

“Many were hit by ball bearings packed into the bomber’s suicide jacket,” said Manzoor Khan of the main state-run hospital in the northwest town of Charshadda, where the attack occurred.

“It seems most of the victims died from excessive bleeding,” he told AFP.

Local police said the head of the suicide bomber had not been located but that two severed legs believed to be his were being sent for DNA tests.

“We are probing locally and a team of experts is conducting a high-level investigation into the incident,” said local police officer Gulzar Ahmed.

The target of the attack was Aftab Sherpao, Musharraf’s former interior minister who oversaw a crackdown on Islamic militants. He escaped unhurt but his son was wounded and was reported to be in hospital in stable condition.

The attack came on one of the most important holidays in the Islamic calendar, Eid Al Adha.

Ahmed said funeral services were held for 44 of the victims on Friday night. The bodies of others were sent to their home villages in the area, he said.