Under heightened security: Jamrud undergoing anti-polio drive

Political agent says security measures were taken and now the campaign was under way.

JAMRUD: A polio vaccination drive kicked off in Jamrud, Khyber Agency amid tight security on Saturday. Jamrud Assistant Political Agent (APA) Jehangir Azam Wazir told reporters the campaign had been postponed since a month due to the killing of polio workers in the tehsil. Security measures had been increased afterwards and now the campaign was under way, said Wazir. Wazir said at first they had decided to impose a curfew in the most sensitive areas. However, security measures involving a ban on motorcycles, display of weapons and public gatherings made the launch possible without a curfew.  The APA said in areas where polio workers had been attacked previously, khasadar officials administered oral polio drops to children. These areas included Shakas, Jabba and Ali Masjid. Khyber Agency Surgeon Dr Rahman Afridi reiterated strict security measures were taken for the campaign. “I visited various areas in Jamrud and inspected the campaign.”

Published in The Express Tribune, January 12^th, 2014.