Adding to the fray: Unknown outfit threatens polio team

Letter says immunisation is ‘un-Islamic’.


Our Correspondent June 30, 2013
The letter could be an act of miscreants who want to spread panic. DESIGN: SIDRAH MOIZ KHAN

HARIPUR:


An unknown outfit by the name of Haqooq Tahafuz-e-Muslimeen (HTM) threatened polio teams under the jurisdiction of Basic Health Unit (BHU) Dingi of dire consequences. It termed polio vaccinations ‘un-Islamic’, said police and health officials on Sunday.


Health authorities confirmed the report, however, they clarified the teams would continue administering polio vaccinations.

According to Kot Najibullah police, they received a photocopy of a letter with the Haqooq Tahafuz-e-Muslimeen letterhead which had been sent to BHU Dingi. Police officials added the previously unknown outfit had warned the hospital staff to desist from administering polio drops to children. According to the letter, these vaccinations were against the teachings of Islam.



The letter warned the hospital staff would be targets of HTM’s reaction if they did not desist from anti-polio campaigns.

According to BHU Dingi EPI Technician Shafiq Khan, he and the medical officer in-charge Dr Jaweria Hashmi lodged a complaint with the Kot Najibullah police station. Shafiq said the polio campaign would continue without any interruption, but police escorts will be deployed with the teams for their security.

Kot Najibullah SHO Ghazi Khan also confirmed the report, adding this was the first time he had heard about an outfit called Haqooq Tahafuz-e-Muslimeen.



The letter could be an act of miscreants who want to spread panic in the area, he postulated.

But to be on the safe side, the SHO said he had deployed two police officials with each of the polio teams under the jurisdiction of BHU Dingi.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 1st, 2013.

COMMENTS (1)

csmann | 10 years ago | Reply

So by wrongly implicating Islam they can usurp the Huqooqs of innocent children, and let them be maimed.Where do they learn their Islam from?

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