Polio workers granted weapons permits

Weapons permits to be issued to both male and female polio workers.

Just hours after two volunteers on a polio team were killed in Topi, Swabi, polio workers in Swabi were granted permission to carry their own weapons for security purposes.

District Police Officer Mian Muhammad Saeed told The Express Tribune that vaccinators administering polio drops in Swabi district would be allowed to carry weapons to defend themselves.

“This will be only for the vaccinators for the duration till the campaign lasts,” he said, adding that both male and female workers will have permits for weapons issued to them.

Saeed further said that around 20 suspects had been rounded up after the incident in Topi, as it was not the first time health workers had been targeted in the area.

“We are trying to establish a link between the attacks, hopefully there will be breakthrough this time.”