No end in sight: Polio team targeted in Baldia town

Police constable accompanying the team shot back.

KARACHI:

Four people, including two women, opened fire at a polio team, comprising two women and a constable, in Baldia town No. 8 on Tuesday. No casualties were reported.

“The constable had fired back at the culprits to protect the team,” said Baldia SP Shah Jehan, adding that the two male culprits, Bahdur Khan and Ghullam Qasim, belonged to a banned organisation “The polio campaign, which had to be suspended midway on Tuesday, will be continued on Wednesday.” He also pointed out that Khan and Qasim have been taken to an undisclosed location for further questioning. The women were let go after initial investigation.

“The polio campaign should continue in spite of these incidents,” said Dr Elias Durry, a coordinator of the polio campaign for World Health Organisation (WHO) Pakistan. He also called upon law enforcement agencies to provide foolproof security to the all polio workers. “WHO will continue to provide assistance to the health department to make Pakistan a polio-free country.”

Published in The Express Tribune, April 17^th, 2013.