BAJAUR, Pakistan — A targeted attack on a polio vaccination team in Bajaur district left two dead on Tuesday, including a police officer assigned to protect the team. A passerby also lost their life after sustaining injuries during the shooting.
According to District Police Officer Waqas Rafiq, unidentified gunmen opened fire on the team in the Tangi area of Salarzai tehsil. Both the injured police official and civilian were critically wounded and later died while being transported to a hospital.
In response, authorities dispatched a substantial police force to the site and launched raids across the district to apprehend the attackers. Police officials confirmed that efforts were ongoing to identify and arrest those responsible.
Pakistan, alongside Afghanistan, remains one of the few countries where polio is still endemic. Over the past decade, hundreds of health workers and security personnel have been killed while participating in polio immunisation campaigns.
This incident occurred shortly after the launch of the final polio vaccination drive of 2025, which aims to immunise over 45 million children nationwide. Federal Health Minister Syed Mustafa Kamal recently reported that Pakistan has recorded 30 polio cases this year, with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa reporting the highest number at 19.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the attack, expressing sorrow for the fallen officer and the deceased civilian. He directed authorities to ensure that the perpetrators are swiftly identified and held accountable, reaffirming that the polio campaign will continue until the disease is eradicated.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi also denounced the attack, calling it a heinous act and paying tribute to the martyred constable, Sajjad Ahmed, who he described as a national hero. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Suhail Afridi echoed these sentiments, emphasizing that the sacrifices of polio workers and security personnel will never be forgotten and that the campaign would not be disrupted.
Despite persistent threats, officials have reaffirmed their commitment to the anti-polio drive, underscoring its importance in safeguarding children against the debilitating disease.
