Police Officer Killed Protecting Polio Team in Pakistan

Islamabad, May 27 (PTI) — Unidentified gunmen have tragically shot and killed a police officer protecting a polio vaccination team in Pakistan’s troubled Balochistan province on Tuesday. After the attack, the assailants managed to flee the scene, as confirmed by officials.

The incident unfolded in the Noshki area, where polio workers were diligently administering vaccines to children under five as part of a nationwide effort to inoculate over 43 million children.

Noshki Deputy Commissioner Amjad Soomro verified the occurrence, identifying the slain officer as Waheed Ahmed. “Police have established checkpoints in the area to apprehend the attackers,” he stated.

Fortunately, the polio workers emerged unscathed from the attack, according to police reports. The deceased policeman was identified as a Noshki resident.

Both provincial and federal authorities have condemned the attack, describing it as intolerable and beyond comprehension.

President Asif Ali Zardari issued a statement denouncing the attack and offering his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family. He emphasized the courage and sacrifice of polio officials, recognizing their inspiration in saving children from the debilitating disease.

The president reiterated Pakistan’s resolute commitment to eradicating polio, stating, “We have the tools, the will, and the support of our global partners to make this vision a reality. I call on parents to open their doors to vaccinators to ensure every child receives these life-saving polio drops.

I urge teachers, religious leaders, and community elders to champion this noble cause, dispelling myths and building trust. I appeal to the media to amplify the truth: the polio vaccine is safe, effective, and our best weapon,” Zardari expressed in his statement.

Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi remarked that attacking those protecting children’s futures is inconceivable and intolerable.

Balochistan government spokesperson Shahid Rind stated, “The polio campaign is a national duty, and any attack on it is intolerable.” He paid tribute to the fallen police officer, calling the attack a conspiracy to disrupt the national campaign and instill fear and panic.

As of yet, no group has claimed responsibility for this heinous act.

On Monday, two polio workers were abducted by armed assailants in the Tank district of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

On Sunday, the Pakistan Polio Programme launched its third campaign of the year to combat polio. Prime Minister’s Focal Person for Polio Eradication, Ayesha Raza Farooq, formally inaugurated the campaign.

The Pakistan Polio Programme aims to administer polio vaccines and vitamin A drops to more than 45 million children under the age of five during this campaign. A workforce totaling 400,000 polio workers has been mobilized to ensure the successful implementation of this vital initiative.

Earlier this week, two new polio cases were reported in the Lakki Marwat and Bannu districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, raising the number of infected children this year to ten. Five of these reported cases originated from the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

Pakistan remains one of the last two countries globally, alongside Afghanistan, where polio continues to be endemic.

Despite worldwide efforts to eradicate the virus, persistent challenges such as safety issues, vaccine hesitancy, and misinformation hinder progress towards eliminating polio.

(Only the headline of this report may have been reworked by Editorji; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)