Pakistani Policeman On Polio Duty Slain In Peshawar

Another policeman assigned to protect polio workers was martyred in Peshawar on Tuesday.

This incident occurred amidst an ongoing anti-polio campaign aimed at vaccinating 16.5 million people against the debilitating disease. Pakistan, one of only two countries still battling polio, reported its fourth case of the year last week when a toddler in southern Shikarpur was diagnosed with the virus.

Read more: Pakistan’s Fourth 2024 Polio Case Reported In Shikarpur

Local media reports indicate that officer Shahnawaz was killed in the Suleman Khel area while en route to his duty. The attackers remain unidentified, and a search operation is underway.

In 2024, twelve police officers have been killed while providing security for vaccination campaigns in the KP province. Anti-polio efforts in Pakistan frequently face violence, with militants targeting vaccination teams and their police escorts.