News
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
KP governor escapes missile attack in Orakzai Agency* Taliban fire two missiles at a jirga to be addressed by Masood Kausar in Orakzai, wounding six, but governor was not hurt
* US condemns attack on rally
PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Governor Masood Kausar escaped on Tuesday a missile attack in Orakzai tribal district when suspected militants fired rockets on a jirga, officials said.
Militants fired two missiles at a jirga to be addressed by Kausar in Orakzai, wounding six, but the governor was not hurt.
“The governor remained safe in the attack and he did not cancel the remaining activities,” officials in the Governor’s House said.
According to a senior official in the administration, the suspected Taliban militants fired rockets that landed in Scouts Fort in Kalay, headquarters of the Orakzai tribal district.
The attack left six persons – two doctors, two levy persons, an assistant education officer and livestock deputy director injured.
“Masood was moved away from the jirga’s venue after the attack. However, he stayed in the area and participated in other activities,” the administration official said.
The attack comes after military said it weaned the region away from the influence of militants, sending the internally displaced people back to their areas.
“Jirga participants were scared by the rocket attack and ran for cover when one of the rockets fell very close to the jirga venue,” eyewitnesses were quoted as saying.
Addressing the elders, maliks and political workers at Kalaya during his daylong visit, KP Governor Barrister Masood Kausar said that militants in FATA were breathing their last and the cowardly acts of terrorism were a clear proof that they were on the run.
Meanwhile, the US embassy in Pakistan has strongly condemned the rocket attack. A US embassy spokesman said in a statement that people of KP had the right to meet peacefully and in safety with government officials. staff report /agencies
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk