KARAK: A policeman was martyred while protecting a polio vaccination team during an attack in the Shakarkhel area of Karak district, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), on Monday.
According to media reports, unidentified gunmen launched an attack on the polio vaccination team near the Terai Police Station. The assault resulted in the death of one police officer and left a polio worker injured, causing panic in the area. The slain policeman has been identified as Irfan.
District Police Officer (DPO) Khan Khail arrived at the scene, and a search operation has been initiated. Police have cordoned off the area and are actively pursuing the assailants responsible for the attack.
Karak, the district’s administrative headquarters, is home to the Khattak tribe, a Pashtun group.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa remains a critical focus for polio eradication due to the persistence of non-vaccination among less than one percent of the target population. Officials hope that strict measures like Section 144 will support the campaign’s success, bringing Pakistan closer to eradicating the disease.
In related news, the polio vaccination campaign in Balochistan has been temporarily postponed for one day due to security concerns. The Home Department of Balochistan requested the delay, citing intelligence information. The seven-day polio campaign was scheduled to begin on Monday.
It may be noted that authorities continue to face challenges such as vaccination refusals, missed targets, fake finger marking, and lack of cooperation from district administrations and health officers.
Polio, a highly infectious viral disease, can cause irreversible paralysis and death. The virus primarily spreads through the faecal-oral route or contaminated food and water. Initial symptoms include fever, fatigue, vomiting, stiffness of the neck, and limb pain.
Health officials emphasize that while polio has no cure, it is entirely preventable through vaccines. Oral polio vaccines (OPV) and inactivated polio vaccines (IPV) have proven safe and effective worldwide, with multiple doses ensuring lifelong immunity.
