BAJAUR: A health worker was critically wounded when unidentified men opened fire on him in Khar Bazaar of Bajaur tribal district on Thursday evening.

Officials said Sifatullah, 30, an employee of the district headquarters hospital, Khar, was attacked as he was returning home from duty.

They said the attackers used automatic rifles.

The officials said the firing left the health workers seriously wounded, who was immediately taken to the district headquarters hospital, whose doctors referred him to the Lady Reading Hospital, Peshawar, due to critical head injuries.

The firing victim is a social activist as well and is known for helping the poor and needy persons across the district.

No one claimed responsibility for the attack. The health worker’s family and friends said he had no enmity.

The police said they had registered a case and launched investigation into it to learn about the attackers.

A police official said the incident took place near the police post in Khar and a team of police personnel immediately reached there soon after learning about the firing.

He said the attackers had escaped before the police personnel reached there.

People from all walks of life, including elders, political and social activists and journalists, condemned the attack and expressed concern about the police’s failure to arrest attackers.

Published in Dawn, February 20th, 2021