
Karak/Bannu: A tragic incident occurred on Monday when unidentified attackers targeted polio vaccination teams in the Karak and Bannu districts, leaving a policeman martyred and a polio worker injured.
In Karak, the attack took place in the Shakarkhel area of Teri police precincts during an ongoing anti-polio campaign. According to the Kohat DIG, a police officer, identified as Irfan, was martyred when motorcyclists opened fire on the polio team. Irfan was on duty providing security for the team. He succumbed to his injuries on the spot. Meanwhile, a polio worker was injured in the attack and was quickly transported to Peshawar for treatment. Rescue officials transferred the body of the fallen policeman to the District Headquarters Hospital (DHQ) for postmortem. Following the incident, the police launched a search operation in the area to apprehend those responsible for the attack.
Karak Deputy Commissioner Shakeel Marwat confirmed that the polio campaign will continue across the district despite the attack. The ongoing campaign aims to vaccinate children under the age of five to protect them from the crippling disease.
In a separate attack in Bannu, another polio worker, identified as Hayatullah, was injured when unidentified assailants opened fire on him in the Saddar police precincts. The police have reported that the shooting was related to an old enmity between the victim and his attackers. Hayatullah was promptly taken to a hospital for medical treatment. Police claimed that the attackers fled the scene after the shooting.
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Despite the attacks, the five-day anti-polio campaign continues in Bannu district under tight security. More than 2,500 police personnel have been deployed to ensure the peaceful conduct of the vaccination drive.
To enhance security during the campaign, the Deputy Commissioner of Bannu has imposed Section 144, which includes a ban on motorcycle pillion riding, displaying weapons, and using tinted windows in vehicles for seven days.
The attacks on polio teams highlight the ongoing challenges faced by health workers in Pakistan, where such campaigns are often met with violence due to misinformation or local conflicts. However, authorities have vowed to continue the fight against polio, ensuring that every child is protected from the disease.