Soldier’s heroics save polio workers
CM Bizenjo announces Rs0.3 million reward for the valiant FC man
Frontier Corps personnel. PHOTO: EXPRESS
QUETTA:
A paramilitary soldier saved polio workers, taking three bullets on his own chest during an anti-polio drive in Balochistan. The valiant soldier – deployed to guard polio workers at a check in Yaro, some 42km from Quetta – survived as he was wearing a bullet-proof jacket.
Home Minister Mir Sarfaraz Bugti introduced the brave Frontier Corps (FC) Balochistan soldier, named Khalil, to reporters during a press conference at the Chief Minister House on Wednesday.
Countrywide polio eradication drive launched
“There is a transit point in Yaro city where polio volunteers were deployed to administer polio drops to children. A man riding a motorcycle, along with a child and a woman, opened fire on the polio volunteers. But the brave soldier shielded the volunteers and received three bullets on his own chest,” said Bugti at the press conference, flanked by Khalil.
He said fortunately Khalil was wearing a bullet-proof jacket and survived. He saved unarmed polio workers “who are working to save our children from lifetime disability”.
“This is the difference between terrorists and our security forces… they have targeted our women and children, but our forces did not retaliate to the fire from the motorcyclist, because the child and the woman [he was accompanied with] could have been hit,” he said.
The home minister said the security forces tried to chase the attacker, but he escaped due to narrow streets. “While he was being chased, he again fired at the forces’ vehicle,” he said, adding that in a search operation later, three suspects were detained and investigations were underway.
He said media would be informed of progress in the case after investigation.
Replying to a question about the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) ban on recruitment in government departments in Balochistan, Bugti said the ECP had not yet issued any notification and “we will take further steps after the notification”.
Fourth anti-polio drive of 2018 starts today
He, however, said, “The ECP should understand the situation in Balochistan where joblessness needs to be cut down, and some of the vacant posts need to be filled in on immediate basis.”
Meanwhile, Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Abdul Quddus Bizenjo has announced Rs0.3 million reward for the FC soldier and Rs0.1 million for the Levies soldiers deployed there.
The ongoing polio campaign in Balochistan is part of a nationwide campaign starting on Monday. As many as 38.7 million children under five years of age will be immunised as part of the campaign.
A paramilitary soldier saved polio workers, taking three bullets on his own chest during an anti-polio drive in Balochistan. The valiant soldier – deployed to guard polio workers at a check in Yaro, some 42km from Quetta – survived as he was wearing a bullet-proof jacket.
Home Minister Mir Sarfaraz Bugti introduced the brave Frontier Corps (FC) Balochistan soldier, named Khalil, to reporters during a press conference at the Chief Minister House on Wednesday.
Countrywide polio eradication drive launched
“There is a transit point in Yaro city where polio volunteers were deployed to administer polio drops to children. A man riding a motorcycle, along with a child and a woman, opened fire on the polio volunteers. But the brave soldier shielded the volunteers and received three bullets on his own chest,” said Bugti at the press conference, flanked by Khalil.
He said fortunately Khalil was wearing a bullet-proof jacket and survived. He saved unarmed polio workers “who are working to save our children from lifetime disability”.
“This is the difference between terrorists and our security forces… they have targeted our women and children, but our forces did not retaliate to the fire from the motorcyclist, because the child and the woman [he was accompanied with] could have been hit,” he said.
The home minister said the security forces tried to chase the attacker, but he escaped due to narrow streets. “While he was being chased, he again fired at the forces’ vehicle,” he said, adding that in a search operation later, three suspects were detained and investigations were underway.
He said media would be informed of progress in the case after investigation.
Replying to a question about the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) ban on recruitment in government departments in Balochistan, Bugti said the ECP had not yet issued any notification and “we will take further steps after the notification”.
Fourth anti-polio drive of 2018 starts today
He, however, said, “The ECP should understand the situation in Balochistan where joblessness needs to be cut down, and some of the vacant posts need to be filled in on immediate basis.”
Meanwhile, Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Abdul Quddus Bizenjo has announced Rs0.3 million reward for the FC soldier and Rs0.1 million for the Levies soldiers deployed there.
The ongoing polio campaign in Balochistan is part of a nationwide campaign starting on Monday. As many as 38.7 million children under five years of age will be immunised as part of the campaign.