Officer Martyred While Guarding Polio Team in Nushki, Balochistan

In a tragic incident on Monday, a police officer assigned to protect a polio vaccination team was martyred when unidentified assailants opened fire in the Killi Muhammad Hassani area of Nushki, Balochistan.

The martyred officer, Abdul Waheed, hailed from Jamalabad, Nushki. His body was shifted to a local hospital following the attack. Authorities strongly condemned the cowardly act, calling it an assault on the future of Pakistan’s children.

Shahid Rind, spokesperson for the Balochistan government, expressed profound sorrow and stated, “Polio campaigns are a national duty, and any assault on them is intolerable. We salute the sacrifice of Shaheed Abdul Waheed, who gave his life for the protection of Pakistan’s children.”

Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi also denounced the attack, offering condolences to the bereaved family. He said, “An attack on those safeguarding our children’s future is beyond comprehension and cannot be tolerated. The perpetrators will be dealt with an iron hand.”

Despite this loss, the seven-day anti-polio campaign continues across Balochistan. According to the Emergency Operations Center, over 2.66 million children under five are being vaccinated. Vitamin A drops are also being administered to boost immunity, with more than 11,000 teams participating.

Meanwhile, First Lady and MNA Aseefa Bhutto Zardari urged the public to support the campaign, emphasizing that it’s a national cause aiming to vaccinate over 44 million children across Pakistan by June 1. She called on all citizens to contribute to making Pakistan polio-free.