Two people were killed and one injured in separate attacks on polio workers in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on the first day of a nationwide anti-polio campaign on Monday.
Gunmen opened fire at a polio vaccination team in the Shakar Khel area of Banda Daud Shah tehsil in Karak. A policeman, who was providing security to the team, was killed, and another polio worker was injured in the attack.
In another incident, a polio worker was shot dead in Bannu's Kala Khel Masti Khan area while heading to work. Police said the suspect fled after the attack and that the victim might have been targeted due to an old feud. Investigations into both incidents are ongoing.
KP Governor Faisal Karim Kundi condemned the attacks, calling them "extremely regrettable." He expressed his sorrow over the policeman’s death and directed officials to provide the injured polio worker with all necessary medical treatment.
Aseefa Bhutto-Zardari, First Lady and PPP leader, also condemned the attacks. On social media, she said, "Strongly condemn the attacks on polio teams in Karak and Bannu. These cowardly acts against healthcare workers and security personnel are trying to undermine efforts to protect our children," she said while calling for authorities to take due action. "Violence won’t deter the fight against polio," she added.
These attacks happened during the ongoing polio vaccination campaign, which aims to vaccinate around 44 million children to prevent the spread of polio. So far, the virus has affected 63 children in the country. Attacks on polio workers are not uncommon, as vaccination teams have been targeted by militants in the past. Just last month, a bombing in Balochistan’s Mastung district killed nine people, including five children and a policeman, who were guarding polio workers.