Policeman martyred in firing at polio team in Karak; Kundi seeks incident report

A policeman was martyred in Shakar Khel area of Karak district of Kohat Division in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Monday morning. The policeman was on security duty of the anti-polio campaign team.

The District Police Officer told media that as a result of the firing a policeman was martyred, while another person was injured. The incident took place in Banda Daud Shah area, the DPO said, adding that the injured person has been shifted to hospital for treatment. The police is searching for accused, police said.

REPORT SOUGHT

Meanwhile, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi has sought report from higher authorities on the firing incident on the polio team.

PM Shehbaz vows to drive poliovirus out of Pakistan’s borders

“The attack on polio team is extremely regrettable,” Kundi said, “[I am] deeply grieved at the martyrdom of policeman in attack on polio team”.

The governor also directed the authorities concerned to ensure provision of all possible treatment to injured polio worker. “Attack on polio workers is a conspiracy of forces hostile to Pakistan and humanity,” Governor Kundi said.

SEVEN DAY ANTI-POLIO CAMPAIGN

An anti-polio campaign began across country today (Monday), and will run until December 22. Polio teams are deployed in Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Sindh to administer vaccinations to millions of children under the age of five years.

In Balochistan, the campaign will start from tomorrow. It was delayed by one day in the province on the request of the home department, in view of the security situation.

Earlier today, the Prime Minister renewed pledge to eradicate polio from Pakistan. Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah also addressed media and urged parents to vaccinate their children.

Anti-polio campaign launched nationwide

“I request the people to support us,” the Sindh CM said. All parents must give their children polio drops, protect them from disabilities and take special care of cleanliness, he added.

Stringent security measures have been deployed to protect the polio teams. Bannu, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Deputy Commissioner said that motorcycle pillion riding, display of weapons and use of tinted windows in vehicles have been banned in the district for the length of the anti-polio campaign.