Fawad Khan speaks up amid polio controversy

‘Humsafar’ star was reportedly booked for refusing vaccinations for his children

KARACHI: A case was registered on Wednesday against actor Fawad Khan for his alleged refusal to get his children vaccinated against the polio virus in Lahore. The police filed a complaint against six citizens, including the Humsafar star, during a recent polio immunisation drive in Faisal Town.

Authorities reported Fawad has landed himself in trouble over his refusal to administer the vaccination drops for the crippling disease. The polio team claimed that when it reached the actor’s residence, their request was not entertained.

It’s pertinent to mention here that Fawad is currently in Dubai for the Pakistan Super League (PSL) and was not at home at the time. Lahore’s Deputy Commissioner was informed about the incident after which a first information report (FIR) was registered against Fawad. A source revealed the artist’s driver reportedly misbehaved with the polio team.

PHOTO: SADAF KHAN/INSTAGRAM

Focal Person for PM on Polio Eradication, Babar Atta mentioned, “As per DC Lahore, the polio team wanted to immunise Fawad’s two-year-old daughter since yesterday. First, his driver misbehaved with the team and then his family followed. Fawad is our pride and I request him to allow the team to vaccinate his children.

Lahore has witnessed a polio case last week and we must protect our children.” Atta continued, “I have been told that Fawad thinks getting his daughter immunised from the UK will protect her against the Wild Poliovirus. However, protection against WPV1 scan only be guaranteed with the Oral Polio Vaccine.”

As Twitter went ablaze with criticism against Fawad – both for his family’s refusal of the vaccine and reported misbehaviour with the team – the actor’s team finally responded in a public statement. His management claimed he has been booked for the wrong reasons.

PHOTO: INSTAGRAM

The controversy became a joke when a picture of Fawad, taken miles away from home, made the rounds on social media. In an interesting turn of events, the Khoobsurat star’s team reported that not only was the actor overseas, but his wife and children were not at home either, at the time of the said incident.

Putting all allegations to rest, the statement read, “It has been widely reported that an FIR has been registered against Mr Fawad Khan stating that he, on February 19, interfered with the government’s efforts to vaccinate his daughter at his residence. Nothing could be further from the truth as neither of the parents were home at the time of visit by the Anti-Polio Team. Fawad has been outside Pakistan since February 13, where he performed at the PSL opening ceremony in Dubai, and is presently in the United States. His travel history clearly demonstrates the manufactured nature of the FIR and he has just come to know of the FIR through the press.”

Fawad Khan PHOTO: FASHIONCENTRAL

The statement mentioned that Fawad fully supports the anti-polio drive and is very well aware of the guidelines of WHO and CDC. “The vaccination of Fawad’s daughter is up to date and the record is there to support the same is available,” the notice read, with an attached picture of Fawad’s daughters vaccination records.  While the ruckus fostered surrounding the news hasn’t gone down too well with the actor, his team reported, “Fawad reserves the right for appropriate legal redress including all such remedies against any damages caused by this event, should the FIR not be cancelled.”

On February 18, a three-day anti-polio campaign targeting over 13.2 million people kicked off in the country. As per the Prime Minister Polio Cell, the aim of the ongoing campaign is to weaken the spread of polio virus, especially in the 10 cities the illness has been reported the most in the last month.

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