FIRs registered into armed attacks on polio workers

PESHAWAR: Cases, under Sections 302/324 of Pakistan Penal Code, have been registered into the targeted attacks on polio vaccinators in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Geo News reported.

Earlier on Wednesday, polio workers came under attack in Charsadda, Nowshehra, and Peshawar.

At least three polio workers have been killed so far as UNICEF suspends polio activities in the country with immediate effect.

According to the reports, one Lady Health Supervisor Zakia and her driver Muhammad Ayaz died on the spot in target killing at Tarkha area in Union council Maazara in Tehsil Shabqadar Charsadda.

Meanwhile, UNICEF has suspended polio activities in the all the provinces of the country till further order.

The vehicle of the polio team was targeted by the miscreants in Maizaray Bazaar in Shabqadar, resultantly a lady supervisor and her driver were injured who later succumbed to their injuries in hospital.

The local police said that miscreants on motorbikes fired at the vehicle of polio team in Shabqadar area and fled from the scene.

In another incident in Charsadda district the assailants riding motorbikes fired at another anti-polio teams in Dheri Zardad however no one was injured in the incident.

In similar incident of violence a polio worker, Hilal, 22, was hit in the head by unidentified attackers in UC Larama in Town II of Peshawar when he was wall chalking on the doors during anti polio campaign in the province.

Deputy Director EPI, Dr Janbaz Afridi told media that unknown assailants shot and injured Hilal, a worker of anti-polio team in Daudzai area on the outskirts of Peshawar this morning.

He was rushed to Lady Reading Hospital in critical condition where he died. The doctors made hectic efforts to save the life of injured vaccinator but in vain.

Meanwhile, four female polio vaccinators escaped an assassination bid in Nowshera Wednesday morning when unknown gunmen fired at them during their door-to-door oral vaccination campaign.

The health authorities immediately halted the anti-polio campaign in the Charassada district after two attacks on polio teams in one day.

Meanwhile, Commissioner Mardan Division, Adil Khan has also immediately stopped polio campaign in the district after attacks on polio teams in Nowshera, Peshawar and Charsadda districts.