KOHAT, April 12: Two civilians were injured when militants fired about a dozen rockets at Thall Fort in Hangu district on Tuesday. Officials said that terrorists fired at least 12 rockets from Orakzai Agency side at Thall Fort of army in Hangu district but failed to hit the target. The rockets exploded in fields and injured two pedestrians identified as Imran and Nazir, they said. The injured were taken to Tehsil Civil Hospital.

Eyewitnesses said that rockets were fired from Orakzai Agency where military had been engaged in an operation against militants since last March.

Sources said that the army opened heavy firing on the hideouts of militants in retaliation but there were no immediate reports of casualties. The residents of the area said that army did not retaliate because it was already engaged in operation against militants in Orakzia Agency.

Meanwhile, a jirga of Haleemzai tribe held at Nahqi IDPs camp on Tuesday extended support to security forces and political administration in restoration of peace and government writ in their respective areas in Mohmand tribal region.

The jirga, held with Haleemzai Peace Committee chief Malak Mohammad Ali in the chair, was attended by a large number of tribal elders including Malak Amir Nawaz Khan, Malak Haji Kaeem Said, Malak Dawran Bacha, Malak Sahib Dar, Haji Sanak, Karimullah Kamal, Umar Said and Malak Aurang Zeb.

The jirga decided that local tribes would protect government installations in their respective areas. It said all the tribes would support each other in case of any attack by militants.

Addressing the jirga, Mohammad Ali said they were peace-loving people and would not shelter suspected people, who were bent upon destroying peace of the region. He said the tribesmen would fight alongside security forces to protect frontiers of their motherland from enemies.

The jirga also decided that tribal elders would rebuild the two destroyed government schools in Shah Beg Kamali Haleemzai area.