Lady Polio worker martyred in Chaman attack
Lady Polio worker martyred in Chaman attack
Our Reporter
BalochistanLatest

QUETTA: A female community health worker, working as part of a polio vaccination team, was martyred and another injured on Thursday in Balochistan’s Chaman.

QUETTA: A female community health worker, working as part of a polio vaccination team, was martyred and another injured on Thursday in Balochistan’s Chaman.

Assistant Commissioner Syed Sami Agha told reporters the polio workers were targeted at the immunisation team in Sultan Zai, a city near the shared border with Afghanistan by unidentified motorcyclists who managed to escape from the scene of the incident.

Assistant Commissioner Syed Sami Agha confirmed that one female polio worker was martyred, while another worker was injured in the attack.

He said both victims were shifted to District Headquarters Hospital.

Agha added that the area has been sealed, and levies forces are conducting a search operation in the area, while the anti-polio campaign has been temporarily suspended in the area following the targeted attack.

Authorities have suspended anti-polio campaign in all Union Councils (UCs) of Chaman after sorrowful attack on campaigners by unidentified assailants.

Citing security concerns, anti-polio campaign was suspended for indefinite period following gun attack on a team deployed to vaccinate children in the city.

Chief Minister Balochistan Jam Kamal Khan strongly condemned Thursday’s targeted attack on the polio workers and sought a report regarding the incident.

He called for strict security to be provided to the polio workers in the province and told IG Police that all resources should be used to arrest the assailants.

“Attacking women is against Islamic values,” Jam kamal said, adding that, those involved in the attack deserve the maximum punishment.

“We will defeat those trying to hinder the ongoing anti-polio campaign, and ensure that our children’s healthy future.”

Balochistan home minister, Ziaullah Lango, strongly condemned attack on anti-polio campaigners in Chaman and summoned a report into the incident.

Babar Bin Atta, Prime Minister’s Focal Person on Polio Eradication, confirmed the death of a polio worker.

Atta said that the tragic attack was carried out in Sultanzai, a suburban area of Balochistan’s Chaman city close to Pakistan-Afghanistan border, where one female polio worker was martyred.