Levies official martyred in attack on polio workers
A Levies official was martyred when armed men opened fire on a polio team in the Chaman district of Balochistan on Thursday.
The Levies official was deployed for the security of the polio team engaged in the provision of anti-polio drops to children below the age of five years.
The victim was identified as Habib ur Rehman, a resident of Chaman. Levies and police personnel reached the spot and started an investigation into the incident.
The deputy commissioner of Chaman and other concerned officers reached the District Headquarters Hospital Chaman where the dead body of the victim was brought.
"This act of terrorism will not be spared and the culprits involved will be brought to justice", the DC lamented.
Police sources said that the attackers escaped unhurt from the spot after the attack.
Balochistan Home Minister Mir Ziaullah Langove strongly condemned the attack and directed the deputy commissioner to submit a report in this regard.
In a statement issued after the attack, Langove said that the perpetrators of the attack would be brought to justice.
He said that the government has committed to providing security to polio teams engaged in the campaign.
The Balochistan health department has launched a five-day anti-polio campaign to ensure the provision of the vaccine to children.
The campaign commenced on October 24. This attack in Chaman has come two days after armed militants opened fire and martyred a police head constable guarding the polio team in the Pishin district of Balochistan.
It is worth noting here that Balochistan has not reported any polio cases for the last 21 months.
However, Syed Zahid Shah, the Chief of the Emergency Operation Cell (EOC) said that the crippling virus exists in the Quetta block comprising Pishin, Chaman and Killa Abdullah.
The security of polio teams has been tightened after attacks on teams in Chaman and Pishin, the Balochistan home minister told The Express Tribune.
He said that Levies and police were guarding the polio team engaged in the provision of drops to children below the age of five years.