Five people were killed in Karachi and Peshawar by unknown gunmen who opened fire when they were performing their duty. All the people were associated with UN backed program to eradicate polio
from all over Pakistan. Four female workers were shot dead in three different incidents in the port city of Karachi. They were performing their duties in the Gulshan-e-Buner area of Landhi, Raja Tanvir Colony of Orangi Town and Mochko area’s Mohammad Khan Colony.
Male workers also sustained injury and was shifted to hospital. The relatives if the deceased told media that there was no police accompanying with the team which was performing their duty on the second day of a nationwide three-day drive against the polio.
Another female worker was killed in Peshawar and her sister also working for polio vaccination was injured in the attack. Yesterday police said that a volunteer of World Health Organization’s anti-polio campaign was also killed in Gadap Town, Karachi.
Following the attacks on polio team the World Health Organization’s (WHO) anti-polio campaign has been stopped in the city. Sindh Minister for Health, Dr. Saghir Ahmed has ordered for immediate halt to ongoing campaign.
A resident of Orangi Town who was associated with WHO polio team few years back, said that it is always very difficult for the workers/volunteers to perform their duty as there are many people who does not like these type of campaigns. He said that during his time, many threat call were received by his team but police never give importance to them.
it is duty of politicians, media, teachers, Maulanas, NGOs to educate people espeillay illetare about the benefits of polio vaccination and clear their minds from negative impact of this polio vacniation.