A policeman assigned to guard a polio eradication team was shot dead in Balochistan’s Noshki district on Tuesday. The attack, confirmed by Deputy Commissioner Amjad Hussain Soomro, occurred in the Killi Muhammad Hassni area. The victim, Waheed Ahmed, was a local resident of Jalalabad, Noshki.
Attack on National Health Duty
Unknown assailants opened fire on the officer while he was protecting health workers during Pakistan’s ongoing anti-polio campaign. Police have since launched a search operation and established checkpoints across the district to apprehend the attackers.
Despite the tragic incident, the vaccination drive in Noshki has continued without pause. DC Soomro assured that enhanced security is now in place for all anti-polio teams.
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Condemnation from Leadership
Leaders across Pakistan condemned the attack. President Asif Ali Zardari extended condolences to the victim’s family and honored the dedication of frontline health workers. He urged all citizens—especially parents, teachers, and community leaders—to support the campaign by welcoming vaccinators and spreading accurate information about the polio vaccine’s safety and importance.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also denounced the attack, calling it an act of sabotage against a national cause. He promised decisive action against those targeting the polio campaign. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi echoed these sentiments, labeling the assault an attack on Pakistan’s future.
A Broader Threat
Balochistan Health Minister Bakht Muhammad Kakar called the killing a “cowardly and inhumane act” and pledged the state would respond forcefully to any threats against public health efforts.
Just a day earlier, two polio workers were abducted in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Tank district, further highlighting the dangers faced by health teams.
Ongoing Campaign Continues
The attack comes as Pakistan’s third nationwide polio vaccination drive of the year is underway. The campaign was launched by Prime Minister’s Focal Person for Polio Eradication, Ayesha Raza Farooq, at the National Emergency Operations Centre in Islamabad, with full backing from international partners.
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