The attacker struck as mourners were preparing for prayers being held in open ground near corn fields in Jandol town in the district of Lower Dir, 100km from the once Taliban-infested Swat Valley.
The blast came two days after four boys connected to another northwestern anti-militant group were killed in another explosion that was claimed by the Pakistani Taliban.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility for Thursday's attack.
"At least 23 people were killed and more than 50 wounded in the attack," said senior police official Salim Khan Marwat, adding that the bomber targeted members of a state-sponsored anti-Taliban militia operating in the area.
"It was a suicide attack. A bomber came on foot and blew himself up in the middle of people as they were about to start prayers."
Local senior police official Akhtar Hayat Gandapur said there were more than 100 people attending the funeral.
The owner of a medical store in Jandol described scenes of bloody devastation following the explosion.
"I could see pools of blood everywhere on the ground with pieces of flesh... lying on the ground," said store owner Zahoor Khan.
"There were mutilated bodies everywhere... People were collecting the remains of the dead in bed sheets and these scenes were very disturbing."
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