LOWER DIR: The Lower Dir police on Saturday impounded 200 motorcycles and registered cases against the scores of riders for violating a ban on motorcycle riding during the two-day special anti-polio drive.

The crackdown was launched in Lal Qila Maidan subdivision and Lajbok union council of Balambat tehsil.

A police official said cases against the motorcyclists were registered under section 188 CrPC in the limits of different police stations.

Lower Dir deputy commissioner Aun Haidar Gondal had banned motorcycle riding in order to ensure peaceful conduct of the anti-polio campaign on June 5 and 6.

A circular issued from the DC office said government officials, police and security forces personnel were exempt from the ban.

Two policemen escorting vaccinators were killed when armed men opened fire on them in Maidan on Dec 18, 2019.

Separately, a five-day anti-polio campaign was inaugurated in Shangla, Lakki Marwat and Bannu districts on Saturday.

Shangla deputy commissioner Hamidur Rehman began the drive at the District Headquarters Hospital, Alpuri, by administering anti-polio drops to children below five years of age.

The five-day special anti-polio drive will formally begin from Monday (June 7).

Mr Rehman said teams and security arrangements for the campaign had been finalised.

Inaugural ceremonies for anti-polio campaign were also held at the tehsil headquarters hospitals in Bisham and Puran.

In Lakki Marwat, deputy commissioner Abdul Haseeb inaugurated anti-polio drive by administering oral vaccine to a child at his office in the District Headquarters Complex, Tajazai.

On the occasion, district health officer Dr Abdugul said the health department had formed 834 mobile, 52 fixed, 35 transit and 11 roaming teams to vaccinate 186,908 children in 45 union councils during the campaign.

In Bannu, deputy commissioner Mohammad Zubair Niazi also kicked off the polio campaign.

He said a total of 1,049 mobile teams would launch door-to-door campaign while 71 fixed teams would immunise children in hospitals and health centres. He said members of 72 transit teams would administer anti-polio drops to children travelling with parents in public transport and at public places and border points of the district.

Published in Dawn, June 6th, 2021