Kabul , Afghanistan ( CNN ) A suicide bomber detonated his explosives near a group of protesters in eastern Afghanistan on Thursday , killing 17 people and wounding dozens more , police said . An Afghan lawmaker taking part in the protests in the city of Khost was among the 64 people wounded , said Faizullah Ghairat , the provincial police chief . Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid denied his group was responsible for the attack . No other organization has so far claimed responsibility . Humayoon Humayoon , an Afghan member of parliament for Khost province , and the other protesters were on their way to join a larger rally against the provincial governor , according to Zahir Jan , an eyewitness . The suicide attack hit the group around 10 a.m. local time , police said . CNN 's Masoud Popalzai reported from Kabul , and Jethro Mullen wrote from Hong Kong . CNN 's Elizabeth Joseph contributed to this report .
An Afghan lawmaker is among 64 people wounded in the attack , police say . CNN spokesman denies his group was responsible for the attack .