Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday sentenced a deadly attack on a polio vaccination team in Nushki, Balochistan.
A police constable awarded to protect the team was martyrated and another policeman was injured when unidentified guns opened fire. The attack took place on Tuesday when the team performed routine vaccination work in the area.
President Zardari expressed deep concern about the incident and paid tribute to polio workers at risk of their lives to protect children across the country.
In a statement linked to the ongoing nationwide anti-polio campaign, Zardari noted that cases of the paralyzing disease have fallen by over 90 percent due to a consistent vaccination effort, monitoring and the mature of healthcare.
However, he warned that the fight against polio is not yet over and called for continued support for extermination efforts.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also condemned the attack and offered compassion to the family of the slain worker. He promised that those responsible would face strict action and confirm his government’s obligation to protect polio teams from militant threats.
Pakistan polio teams have often been targeted in deadly attacks, especially in remote or conflict -affected areas, making the country one of only two where polio remains endemic.
Pakistan has registered 10 polio cases so far in 2025, official figures show.
Peanwhile Two polio workers were abducted by armed men in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa’s tank district during an ongoing anti-polio campaign on Monday.
The incident took place in the subdivision of the Jandola tribe. The victims were identified as Sifatullah, a Comnet employee, and Hezbullah, a volunteer. Both performed vaccination tasks at the time of abduction.
Pakistan launches third nationwide polio drives of 2025
Pakistan’s polio program launched its third national immunization Days (NIDS) campaign for the year Sunday at the National Emergency Operations Center in Islamabad.
The campaign was inaugurated by Ayesha Raza Farooq, the Prime Minister’s focal person for polio -depletion along with the key program’s officials and partner organizations.
To mark the launch, Ayesha Raza Farooq administered oral polio vaccine and vitamin A drops for children under five, confirming the government’s obligation to wipe out polio.
The week -long drive began on May 26, aiming to vaccinate over 45 million children under five.
