Key Points:
- One police constable and one civilian killed in the attack.
- Polio vaccination operations temporarily suspended in Bajaur.
- Prime Minister and Interior Minister condemn attack.
- Campaign to vaccinate over 45 million children continues nationwide.
ISLAMABAD: Unidentified gunmen killed a policeman and a civilian bystander in Pakistan’s northwestern Bajaur district on Tuesday, prompting authorities to temporarily suspend the local vaccination drive, officials said.
The attack occurred in Village Tangi Loei Khel, UC Khar 2, Salarzai tehsil, near the Afghan border, where terrorists have previously targeted health workers and security personnel despite police escorts.
Constable Sajjad was killed on the spot, while civilian Fazal Rahim later succumbed to his injuries at Khar Hospital. The polio team itself was unharmed, according to Shadab Younas, media officer at the Peshawar Emergency Operations Centre, who quoted the district administration.
Pakistan and Afghanistan remain the only countries where polio is endemic, and vaccination drives have frequently been disrupted by terrorists, misinformation, and vaccine hesitancy. Authorities routinely deploy police and paramilitary forces to guard teams, but attacks have continued in recent years.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the attack, describing it as “deeply regrettable” and directed authorities to swiftly identify and bring the perpetrators to justice. He reaffirmed that the polio campaign would continue with full resolve until the disease is eliminated.
The Interior Minister also denounced the attack, pledging maximum security for vaccination teams and strict action against the attackers.
The National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) reported that the nationwide polio campaign, which started on December 15 and will continue until December 21, is proceeding successfully. More than 13.3 million children vaccinated on the first day. The campaign aims to administer oral polio drops to over 45 million children across Pakistan.
Health officials urged parents and communities to cooperate with vaccination teams and ensure children under five receive the drops. Pakistan and Afghanistan are conducting the polio campaign simultaneously to maximise coverage.
Sources: Arab News (quoting District Administration Bajaur), Peshawar Emergency Operations Center
