Peshawar, Feb 3 (PTI): A police constable assigned to protect an anti-polio vaccination team was shot dead by unidentified militants in Pakistan’s volatile Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on Monday, police officials confirmed.
The tragic incident occurred in Jamrud Tehsil of Khyber district, which shares a border with Afghanistan, on the first day of the nationwide anti-polio vaccination drive. The slain officer, Constable Abdur Razik, was en route to join a team of health workers when gunmen ambushed and fatally shot him.
Militants frequently target polio workers and their security personnel, falsely claiming that the vaccination drive is a Western conspiracy aimed at sterilizing Muslims. Such violent attacks have severely impacted immunization efforts, making the battle against polio even more difficult.
Authorities are continuing investigations into the attack, while security measures are being reassessed to ensure the safety of polio workers and their protectors.
The tragic incident occurred in Jamrud Tehsil of Khyber district, which shares a border with Afghanistan, on the first day of the nationwide anti-polio vaccination drive. The slain officer, Constable Abdur Razik, was en route to join a team of health workers when gunmen ambushed and fatally shot him.
Polio Eradication Efforts Hampered by Extremist Attacks
Pakistan and Afghanistan remain the only two countries where polio remains endemic, with health officials facing increasing challenges in vaccinating children. A major hurdle in Pakistan’s polio eradication campaign is misinformation spread by extremist groups, which discourages parents from allowing their children to receive the vaccine.Militants frequently target polio workers and their security personnel, falsely claiming that the vaccination drive is a Western conspiracy aimed at sterilizing Muslims. Such violent attacks have severely impacted immunization efforts, making the battle against polio even more difficult.
Authorities are continuing investigations into the attack, while security measures are being reassessed to ensure the safety of polio workers and their protectors.