A police officer was killed on Monday while on his way to provide security for polio vaccinators in Jamrud town, situated in the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.
The officer, identified as Constable Abdul Khaliq, was reportedly ambushed by two assailants on a motorcycle who opened fire on him.
He was rushed to the hospital for medical treatment but succumbed to his injuries.
Upon receiving news of the attack, a heavy contingent of police arrived at the scene, cordoned off the area, and launched a search operation.
On Sunday, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif inaugurated the year’s first nationwide anti-polio campaign, running from February 3 to 9, by administering polio drops to children under five. He reaffirmed his commitment to eradicating the disease from Pakistan.
Speaking at the launch, the premier reiterated his resolve to eliminate polio, stating:
“The national polio vaccination drive would target millions of children to save their future and health.”
He praised the dedication of vaccination teams and expressed confidence in their relentless efforts:
“They would work day and night to eradicate the disease, and would reach the far-flung areas and villages.”
He added that the teams would fulfil their duty with “complete energy and commitment”.
A few days ago, the World Health Organization (WHO) commended Pakistan for reducing polio cases by over 99% since 1994 and reaffirmed its commitment to assisting the country in the final phase of eradication.
Despite significant progress, the disease has re-emerged in some of Pakistan’s most volatile regions, posing ongoing challenges.
The WHO acknowledged Pakistan’s efforts and assured continued support in “running the last mile” to eliminate the crippling disease.
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This assurance came during Islamabad’s hosting of the Technical Advisory Group for Polio Eradication, a key forum where global experts convened to devise strategies for eradicating polio worldwide.
