WHO refutes reports of suspending operations in Balochistan

Home Minister Balochistan Sarfraz Bugti says important disclosure expected during interrogation with arrested suspects

QUETTA: The World Health Organisation (WHO) denied earlier reports that it had suspended its operations in Balochistan owing to security threats to health workers in the aftermath of an attack on a polio team near Quetta on Wednesday. The organistaion’s focal person in Pakistan said the WHO had neither closed nor withdrawn its operations.

“WHO would like to categorically dispel the notion of closing down or with-drawing its operations in Balochistan or anywhere else in Pakistan,” Dr Michel Thieren, WHO Representative in Pakistan, said in a press release issued on Thursday.

The statement further stated that WHO has applied a standard and routine measure to limit its staff and contractor’s exposure to any unsettled security situation.

“Such measure intends to take the needed time to analyse in depth the event and its aftermath, and to explore the working environment ahead of a prompt reversal of the measure taken,” the statement read.

Further, it extended its grievances and sympathy to the families of the victims and reiterated its continued support towards polio eradication in the country.

Offices of the WHO remained open in Quetta and the staff resumed their jobs.

Sources in WHO said that their offices are functional as a normal day; however, they added, they have been asked to restrict their movements and take proper security measures while traveling.

International organisations in Quetta were already restricted to their offices due to security issues.

Meanwhile, the seven-day emergency vaccination campaign against nine deadly childhood infectious diseases resumed today after a temporary suspension following an attack on a polio team which killed four workers, including three women on Wednesday.

IG suspends two officers

Inspector General Police (IG) Balochistan Mohammad Almish suspended acting DSP Shalkot Shafqat Ameer Janjuaand and SHO New Saryab Noor Baksh on Thursday after an inquiry report was submitted on the killings of four polio workers in Quetta.

Both officers were suspended for being negligent in performing their duties since the attack took place within their jurisdiction. Four polio workers were shot dead in the outskirts of Quetta on Wednesday morning as they were on their way to kickoff an emergency vaccination campaign. Three lady health workers also sustained injuries in the attack.

“These two officers were held responsible for the security lapse,” a Balochistan police spokesperson told The Express Tribune.

An inquiry report on the deadly attack was submitted to the IG Balochistan earlier on Thursday morning in which the two officers were held responsible for the security lapse.

Police arrested 34 suspects – who are being questioned -- during search operations carried out in different areas of Quetta, namely New Saryab, Baloch Colony, Mullahkhail and other adjoining areas.

Meanwhile, Balochistan Home Minister Sarfraz Bugti said an important disclosure is expected during the interrogation of the arrested suspects.