The attack took place on the first day of a four-day local anti-polio campaign in Orangi. Unidentified gunmen riding a motorbike opened fire at the team and then fled, police said.
"Two gunmen opened fire at the policeman who was on duty to guard the vaccinators," Ali Asif, a senior police official in the area, told AFP, adding that the vaccination campaign in the area had now been postponed.
The policeman is critically ill after a bullet passed through his skull, Doctor Mohammad Abid in the city's Abbasi Shaheed hospital told AFP.
Pakistan is one of only three countries where polio remains endemic. Attempts to stamp it out have been badly hit by opposition from militants and attacks on immunisation teams that have claimed 68 lives since December 2012.
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COMMENTS (3)
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Why do these polio vaccinators not quit? It's clear the government cannot protect them. They must be really desperate to continue to work in such a life threatening occupation.
Beats me! Why certain people are targeting polio vaccinators? Is polio eradication drive an "anti Islamic" or an anti religious activity?
Inna Lillahe Wa Inna Ilaihe Rajeoon. Ameen
In spite of this targeted killing and the crippling proof of polio.......our upcountry citizens and refugees living in Karachi still suspect the vaccinators of carrying on a sneaky agenda. Our ever alert and very, very, very hard-working Sindh admin is truly at a loss on how to react and overcome this intra-city disaster. My sympathies are for the Sindh admin that works really very, very, and very hard to try and build a fine and modern city. TCh, tch, tch! Truly ironic! Salams