Polio team attacked in Nushki, one police officer martyred

Polio team attacked in Nushki, one police officer martyred as the unidentified assailants opened fire.

On Monday, unidentified assailants opened fire on a police officer assigned to protect a polio vaccination team in Killi Muhammad Hassani, Nushki, Balochistan, resulting in his martyrdom.

Police confirmed that the martyred officer, Abdul Waheed, a resident of Jamalabad in Nushki, was taken to a hospital following the incident.

The tragic event prompted widespread condemnation from officials at both the provincial and federal levels.

Balochistan government spokesperson Shahid Rind strongly denounced the attack, emphasizing that polio eradication is a national responsibility and violence against it is unacceptable. He honored the sacrifice of Abdul Waheed for protecting Pakistan’s children.

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi also condemned the incident, expressing sorrow over the officer’s martyrdom. He offered condolences to the family and said that Waheed’s sacrifice represented the highest form of service to the nation.

Naqvi further stated that attacks against those protecting children’s health are intolerable and assured that the perpetrators would face severe consequences.

Despite the attack, the week-long anti-polio drive in Balochistan proceeded into its second day. The Emergency Operations Center reported that over 2.66 million children under five were being vaccinated.

The campaign also includes distribution of Vitamin A supplements to strengthen immunity, with more than 11,000 teams working across the province to ensure every child is reached.

President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif both condemned the attack on the polio team in Nushki. The president praised polio workers’ bravery in risking their lives to vaccinate children.

President Zardari highlighted that due to ongoing campaigns and dedicated health workers, polio cases have dropped by over 90%, although he emphasized that the fight against the disease is ongoing.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed condolences to the martyr’s family and vowed strict action against militants targeting the polio eradication drive.