The minister, Aftab Sherpao, had just addressed a public gathering Saturday in the town of Charsada in North West Frontier Province, which borders Afghanistan, when the bomber rushed towards the stage and detonated his explosives.

"We have formed a joint investigation team comprising provincial and federal police and investigation agencies to probe the incident," the province's chief minister, Akram Durrani, told reporters after meeting Sherpao.

Sherpao, a staunch supporter of President Pervez Musharraf, has talked prominently of the government's achievements in fighting terrorism. Pakistan is a key ally of the United States in its so-called "war on terror."

"I was the target of this blast," Sherpao told national television.

The interior ministry said Sherpao was given first aid at a hospital in Charsada before being taken to his residence in Peshawar.