A security officer assigned to protect a polio vaccination team was tragically killed on Tuesday after unknown attackers opened fire on the health workers in a remote area of Swat, casting a grim shadow over a nationwide immunization drive.
District Police Officer (DPO) Muhammad Umar identified the fallen official as Abdul Kabeer, a Levies personnel. He was performing his security duties with the polio team in the Anzar Tangay area of Matta tehsil when the deadly assault occurred. His body was subsequently transported to Matta Hospital.
Authorities confirmed that the female health workers, who are crucial to the vaccination effort, were unharmed in the incident. In the immediate aftermath, a significant police force was dispatched to the scene, cordoning off the vicinity and initiating a comprehensive search operation to apprehend the militants responsible for the ambush.
The violent episode occurred as the National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) announced the successful continuation of the nationwide anti-polio campaign into its second day. On its inaugural day, the drive successfully reached more than 12.7 million children across the country.
Official figures detailed the provincial breakdown of the first day’s immunizations, with Punjab leading at 7.32 million children. Sindh followed with 2.56 million, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa with 1.76 million, and Balochistan with 667,000 children receiving the vital vaccine. Additionally, health teams administered drops to 108,000 children in Islamabad, 93,000 in Gilgit-Baltistan, and 246,000 in Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
The NEOC reiterated that the current campaign’s objective is to immunize over 45 million children this week. A statement from the center underscored that persistent and coordinated measures are essential to finally eradicate the crippling disease from Pakistan.
Officials have issued a strong appeal to parents and guardians, urging their full cooperation with vaccination teams. They emphasized the importance of ensuring every child under the age of five receives the oral polio vaccine, which is the only protection against a debilitating illness that can lead to permanent disability.