ISLAMABAD — In a tragic incident on Monday, a police officer assigned to safeguard Pakistan’s inaugural polio vaccination initiative of the year was gunned down by unknown assailants, according to police reports.
The Pakistani government implemented extensive security measures, deploying thousands of law enforcement personnel to ensure the safety of health workers conducting door-to-door vaccinations aimed at protecting children. These health officials have frequently become targets for militants, who propagate misleading narratives that these vaccination efforts are part of a Western scheme to sterilize children.
The fatal shooting occurred in Jamrud, a region situated within Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, which shares a border with Afghanistan, as reported by local police official Jamshed Khan.
Since the 1990s, over 200 polio health workers and the police tasked with their security have lost their lives in Pakistan, as highlighted by health officials. In December of last year, a roadside explosion near a convoy of police officers tasked with protecting vaccination teams resulted in the deaths of three officers and injuries to two others.
While militant factions had previously claimed responsibility for attacks on polio workers, recent reports indicate that groups like the Pakistani Taliban and their splinter groups are involved in such violence. The Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which has connections to the Afghan Taliban that regained control in Afghanistan in 2021, is believed to be the main culprits behind these attacks.
Over the weekend, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif officially kicked off the polio vaccination drive by meeting with medical personnel and international aid organization representatives. He emphasized Pakistan’s commitment to eradicating polio, stating that the current campaign, which commenced on Monday, aims to vaccinate 44.2 million children under the age of five and will run until next Sunday.
Ayesha Raza Farooq, the premier’s advisor on polio eradication, called on parents to support the vaccination efforts to ensure their children’s protection against this debilitating disease.
Polio is a viral infection predominantly affecting children aged five and under. While most affected children may show no symptoms, it can lead to fever, headaches, vomiting, and rigidity of the spine. In severe instances, the virus can invade the nervous system, resulting in paralysis within hours, according to the World Health Organization.
Together with Afghanistan, Pakistan remains one of the last two countries where the polio virus has not been effectively eradicated. Pakistan reported a single case in January and had a total of 77 cases in the previous year. Afghanistan, meanwhile, reported 23 cases in 2024, based on WHO data.
The Pakistani authorities are advocating for synchronized vaccination campaigns in both countries to eliminate the disease. In a recent development, the Afghan Taliban halted door-to-door vaccination efforts in September, requiring parents to bring their children to specific sites for immunization.
