Two Pakistani cops have been shot useless on Wednesday whereas defending a polio vaccination workforce within the Teeri space of Mastung district in Balochistan, officers confirmed, marking the second deadly assault on such groups for the reason that nationwide inoculation drive started earlier this week.
In response to native administrator Manan Tareen, the assault occurred when two unidentified gunmen using a bike opened fireplace on the officers as they stood guard exterior a home the place the well being employees have been administering polio drops to youngsters.
“One of many policemen died on the spot whereas the opposite was critically injured and later died on the hospital,” Tareen informed AFP. “The workforce of well being employees remained unhurt, as they have been inside a home conducting vaccinations.”
The identification of the attackers stays unknown, and no group has claimed accountability for the assault. Nevertheless, such assaults have been routinely carried out by militant outfits who view the vaccination campaigns with suspicion, usually accusing them of being cowl operations for espionage.
Shahid Rind, a spokesperson for the provincial authorities, confirmed the loss of life toll and stated safety businesses are investigating the assault. He added that regardless of the assault, vaccination efforts would proceed and safety round groups could be reviewed and strengthened.
This incident follows an analogous assault earlier this week within the restive province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the place a police officer was gunned down whereas accompanying a vaccination workforce.
Polio stays endemic in solely two nations—Pakistan and Afghanistan—and efforts to eradicate the virus have been severely hampered by repeated assaults on well being employees and their safety escorts. Since 2012, greater than 100 well being employees and police personnel have been killed in such focused assaults in Pakistan.
The Pakistani authorities has continued its battle in opposition to polio with assist from the World Well being Group (WHO) and different worldwide companions. The present nationwide marketing campaign goals to immunize thousands and thousands of youngsters beneath the age of 5, particularly in high-risk areas like Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
