Imran threatened over polio remarks: PTI
Imran had earlier said that those who attack polio workers were not doing any justice to humanity, Islam or Pakistan.
PTI chairman Imran Khan. PHOTO: FILE
ISLAMABAD:
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) chairman Imran Khan has been threatened by militants after criticising attacks on polio vaccination teams, his party said Thursday.
Imran on December 18 had declared polio workers as soldiers of Islam and said those attacking them were not doing any justice to humanity, Islam or Pakistanis.
Pakistan is one of three countries in the world where polio remains endemic and efforts to stamp it out have been badly affected by attacks on health workers inoculating children.
"Mr Khan received a threat from Ansarul Mujahideen over his remarks over anti-polio campaign," Shireen Mazari, a senior member of PTI told AFP.
Ansarul Mujahideen is a little-known militant group linked to the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
Last year TTP banned polio vaccinations in the tribal region of Waziristan, alleging the campaign was a cover for espionage.
Eradication efforts have also suffered due to long-standing rumours that the vaccine was part of a Western plot to sterilise Muslims.
PTI leads the government in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) and yesterday, Imran pledged to spearhead a fresh anti-polio drive, kicking it off by administering drops to children at a hospital himself.
"Those attacking polio workers and policemen deputed to protect them, are not doing any justice to humanity, Islam and people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Pakistan," Imran had said.
"Polio workers are mujahid (soldiers of Islam) and we stand by them."
Up to 2.3 million children in nine districts will be targeted in the immunisation drive, local officials have said, after 62 polio cases were reported from tribal areas and K-P this year.
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Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) chairman Imran Khan has been threatened by militants after criticising attacks on polio vaccination teams, his party said Thursday.
Imran on December 18 had declared polio workers as soldiers of Islam and said those attacking them were not doing any justice to humanity, Islam or Pakistanis.
Pakistan is one of three countries in the world where polio remains endemic and efforts to stamp it out have been badly affected by attacks on health workers inoculating children.
"Mr Khan received a threat from Ansarul Mujahideen over his remarks over anti-polio campaign," Shireen Mazari, a senior member of PTI told AFP.
Ansarul Mujahideen is a little-known militant group linked to the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
Last year TTP banned polio vaccinations in the tribal region of Waziristan, alleging the campaign was a cover for espionage.
Eradication efforts have also suffered due to long-standing rumours that the vaccine was part of a Western plot to sterilise Muslims.
PTI leads the government in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) and yesterday, Imran pledged to spearhead a fresh anti-polio drive, kicking it off by administering drops to children at a hospital himself.
"Those attacking polio workers and policemen deputed to protect them, are not doing any justice to humanity, Islam and people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Pakistan," Imran had said.
"Polio workers are mujahid (soldiers of Islam) and we stand by them."
Up to 2.3 million children in nine districts will be targeted in the immunisation drive, local officials have said, after 62 polio cases were reported from tribal areas and K-P this year.
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