‘Cowardly act’: K-P Assembly condemns attacks on polio workers

Ministers, lawmakers ask members to accompany volunteers.

PESHAWAR:

Outraged over the attacks on polio workers, lawmakers in the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Assembly on Friday said the killings were “cowardly”.

Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (PML-N) member Mohammad Javed Abbasi drew attention to the attacks on polio teams. He proposed that lawmakers volunteer with immunisation teams during the anti-polio drive.

Awami National Party (ANP) Saqibullah Chamkani said the attacks were organised attempts to destroy peace in the region. “Polio and terrorism are two of the biggest threats in the region,” he said.

Chamkani also criticised the US for having used the polio campaign for spying on Osama bin Laden. “Whatever their intentions were, using a polio campaign was wrong,” he said. He said the episode with Dr Shakil Afridi had scarred the campaign.

Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam – Fazl (JUI-F) lawmaker Mufti Kifayatullah proposed that children be brought to mosques where they could be vaccinated against polio. He said the government is not taking necessary precautions to prevent the attacks.



Pakistan Muslim League – Quaid (PML-Q) parliamentary leader Qalandar Khan Lodhi proposed that all ministers and lawmakers join the polio campaign and do so voluntarily. He also suggested that the drive be halted for the moment because of the attacks.

However, PML-N member Inayatullah Khan Jadoon said that ending the polio campaign would endanger the future of tens of thousands of children. “No religion allows that children be forced to become handicapped,” he said. He also criticised the government, questioning what they had done so far to protect staffers.

Newly- inducted Pakistan Peoples Party member Nighat Orakzai said the government should take a stand about the issues and it was unfair that terrorists were leaving so many people handicapped.

Provincial Minister for Elementary and Secondary Education Sardar Hussain Babak said it was appalling that militants attacked schools and threatened children and teachers, and are now attacking polio teams.

Meanwhile, the assembly also passed amendments to the K-P Standard Weights and Measures Act, 1976 unanimously. The session was adjourned till Monday afternoon.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 22^nd, 2012.