PHOTO: PPI
QUETTA: A police constable deputed for the security of polio vaccinators was shot dead by unknown assailants in Pashtunabad, on the outskirts of Quetta on Wednesday.
The police official was not on duty at the time and was targeted during a prayer break.
“Police constable Zainullah was shot in the head outside a mosque near the Basic Health Unitin Pashtunabad, which caused his instant death,” police official Saleem Shawani told The Express Tribune.
“He took a break to offer prayers and was returning to the Basic Health Unit when two armed men on a motorbike opened fire on him,” the Balochistan police spokesperson said.
Shawani added that the polio workers remain safe.
“The polio campaign in Quetta has not been suspended after the attack,” Dr Ishaq Panezi, an official of EPI program Balochistan, told The Express Tribune.
“A high-level meeting was called in the chairmanship of Secretary Health to review the situation after the deadly attack,” he added.
The anti-polio drive is underway in 15 union councils of Quetta amid strict security. However, the latest attack is a serious blow to the campaign.
Despite security, polio vaccinators fear for their lives. In November last year, four polio vaccinators, including three women, were brutally murdered and three others were wounded when armed men opened fire on their vehicle in Quetta.
COMMENTS (6)
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This is so unfair. In Shaa Allah we will remove all these terrorists.
Sad news but a word of advice; Our Dear Police officer must watch his back not the method the polio vaccination is delivered. This job should be given to rangers with automatic & heavy amo and a team. The extremists are battle hardened fighters and simple police is not equipped for that.
Pashtunabad area is infested with AFPAK Talibans. There should be a full scale operation in this area. Other areas of Quetta which houses Talibans are Kuchlaq, Omar Killi, Nawa Killi & Kotwal etc. Government should take this act seriously.
A true shaheed... Gave life while trying to protect others who are out and doing a job that the State of Pakistan should own and lead from the front. May Allah protect all those polio workers and the ones guarding them.
He was coming after praying Salat. I'll see how many Mullahs will declare him martyr and will protest for his death. Why these so called religious caretakers not say a word on death of innocent muslims in our own country?
"High level meeting"... What do they say in there?
"Ok so... You know the drill. We've only called this meeting to pretend we're doing something about it. So relax it's yet another stunt to shield us from the stupid public outcry. Business as usual.
Nobody better be under the illusion that we are going to actually make a difference. If anyone wants to do something useful, how about coming up with new ways to stall?"