Swabi polio district coordinator shot dead

Official says doctor died on the spot, while his driver sustained several serious injuries

SWABI: Head of Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) Dr Yaqoob was shot dead and his driver injured on Monday when unidentified assailants opened fired on his car in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa's Swabi district.

"Dr Mohammad Yaqoob was en route to his office in Bacha Khan Medical Complex from Dodher village when unidentified assailants ambushed his vehicle," police officials told The Express Tribune.



"The assailants opened fire on the vehicle in the outskirts of Zaida Town," the officials added.

Dr Yaqoob died on the spot and his driver sustained serious injuries. The injured driver has been shifted to Bacha Khan Medical Complex where he is under observation.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attack so far; however, police officials believe Taliban militants could be involved in the attack.

Over the last few years, polio workers, doctors and security forces have been involved in an anti-polio drive but are faced with many challenges as they become the target of  militants.



In a recent attack last month, a lady health worker engaged in polio vaccination campaigns, was attacked by two unidentified motorcyclists in the province's Shagai Hindkyan village; who threatened to kill her if she did not quit polio vaccinations.