SWABI: A senior official of the Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) and a policeman were gunned down in separate attacks in Swabi district on Monday.

Dr Mohammad Yaqoob, the district head of the EPI, was killed and his driver, who is also his cousin, suffered injuries when assailants on a motorcycle opened fire on their jeep on Zaida bypass road.

Dr Yaqoob was going to the Bacha Khan Medical Complex in Shahmansoor area from Dodher village when his official vehicle came under attack.

Officials termed the incident an act of terrorism, adding the doctor died on the spot. The driver was taken to hospital where he was said to be in stable condition.

The residents of Dodher village and staff of the hospital, carrying Dr Yaqoob’s body, held a demonstration on the Swabi-Jehangira road, demanding arrest of the killers.

The protesters blocked the road for about two hours. They called off the protest when the district administration assured them that the killers would be arrested within 48 hours.

District Police Officer Javed Iqbal told Dawn that involvement of militants in the attack could not be ruled out.

He said police had launched an operation to arrest the killers and picked up about 30 suspects who were being interrogated.

No-one claimed responsibility for the attack.

The paramedics association announced that Tuesday (today) would be observed as a day of mourning and demanded immediate arrest of killers.

A policeman, a teacher and a health worker have lost their lives in the district in previous attacks during polio eradication campaigns.

In the other incident on Monday, one policeman was killed and another injured near Tandkoi village. The policemen were patrolling the area on a motorcycle when the attackers, also riding a motorbike, opened fire at them.

Constable Imtiaz Khan, who belonged to Managi village, was killed and his colleague Ghulam Abbas was taken to the Bacha Khan Hospital Complex with serious wounds. Doctors said he might be referred to Peshawar because of his critical condition.

Officials said it was an incident of targeted killing.

Published in Dawn, December 1st, 2015