LAHORE: A polio worker was shot at and injured by two unidentified motorcyclists in Sanda on Wednesday.

The health department had launched the three-day drive in eight districts of the province, including Lahore, and the incident took place on the last day of the campaign.

The polio workers association held the police responsible for the incident alleging that no police escort was given for the protection of teams.

Reports said a three-member team was administering polio drops to children in Zam Zam Street of Rivaz Garden when two masked motorcyclists came there, opened fire at them and fled.

One of the vaccinators identified as Umer Khan, 22, suffered bullet injuries to his leg and two other members remained unhurt. The injured was said to be stable at Mayo Hospital.

A police official said it might have been a “targetted attack” by the anti-state elements who wanted to engage law-enforcement agencies in Punjab.

He said surprisingly no police team was escorting the polio workers when the unidentified men attacked them.Earlier, a polio worker (a teacher by profession) was shot dead in Faisalabad and another injured in south Punjab when the unidentified armed men attacked them in separate incidents.

Gulshan-i-Ravi Circle DSP Ghulam Abbas Rana held the health department responsible for the incident saying it had not intimated the respective police for security.

Operations DIG Dr Haider Ashraf and Adviser to Chief Minister on Health Khwaja Salman Rafique visited the Mayo Hospital to inquire after the injured worker.

In another incident, Naseerabad police arrested a man identified as Shakil of Model Colony for refusing polio drops to his children and threatening the vaccinators with dire consequences.

The health workers alerted the police who arrested the man and registered a case against him.

Published in Dawn, February 18th, 2016

Opinion

Editorial

‘Source of terror’
Updated 29 Mar, 2024

‘Source of terror’

It is clear that going after militant groups inside Afghanistan unilaterally presents its own set of difficulties.
Chipping in
29 Mar, 2024

Chipping in

FEDERAL infrastructure development schemes are located in the provinces. Most such projects — for instance,...
Toxic emitters
29 Mar, 2024

Toxic emitters

IT is concerning to note that dozens of industries have been violating environmental laws in and around Islamabad....
Judiciary’s SOS
Updated 28 Mar, 2024

Judiciary’s SOS

The ball is now in CJP Isa’s court, and he will feel pressure to take action.
Data protection
28 Mar, 2024

Data protection

WHAT do we want? Data protection laws. When do we want them? Immediately. Without delay, if we are to prevent ...
Selling humans
28 Mar, 2024

Selling humans

HUMAN traders feed off economic distress; they peddle promises of a better life to the impoverished who, mired in...