If at first…: Clerics say more peace talks will resolve polio problem

First consultation meeting of National Islamic Advisory group held.

ISLAMABAD:

Clerics from across the country opined that the continuation of peace talks with the Taliban can help Pakistan in its battle against polio. Clerics were urged to develop effective strategies as they are expected to be at the frontline in combating polio.

This was the crux of the first consultation meeting of National Islamic Advisory group (NIAG) at International Islamic University Islamabad (IIUI) on Saturday.

The speakers believed that polio eradication goes side-by-side with ensuring peace and overcoming security challenges.

Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Sami (JUI-S) chief Samiul Haq expressed concern that the government has been giving a cold shoulder to peace talks for the past three to four months.

“Negotiations with the TTP are key to curbing polio, but the government is not showing any interest. The moment peace talks are restored, the issue of polio eradication will be resolved automatically,” he said.

Minister of State for National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination Saira Afzal Tarar said, “Taliban are not all against polio drives or have any reservation over its vaccines. They are not opposing it for political purposes and some miscreants want to use polio campaigns as a political weapon despite knowing that the vaccine is Halal and not harmful.”

She expressed concern over religious figures that consider polio eradication drives dubious, saying they have become a biggest hurdle in creating a polio-free Pakistan.

Tarar was of the view that Ramazan provides an opportunity to clerics to disseminate messages during Iftar and Sehri sermons on the importance of getting children vaccinated.

The government is making all out efforts to eradicate polio from the country which has embarrassed the entire nation in front of the international community and resulted in travel restrictions being imposed on us by the World Health Organisation (WHO) in May, she said.

“Inaccessibility of polio workers in North and South Waziristan is one of the major reasons behind Pakistan’s failure in winning the fight against polio,” she said.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 15^th, 2014.