Constable martyred in Nushki attack on polio team

A police constable was martyred and another officer sustained injuries after unidentified assailants opened fire on a security team guarding polio workers in Nushki, Balochistan, on Tuesday.

The deadly assault prompted the temporary suspension of the ongoing polio vaccination campaign in the district.

The incident occurred amid Pakistan’s third National Immunisation Days (NIDs) campaign, which officially launched on Monday with the goal of immunising over 45 million children under the age of five. The week-long effort is part of an intensified drive to halt poliovirus transmission and achieve full eradication by the end of 2025.

Balochistan government spokesperson Shahid Rind condemned the attack as a deliberate attempt to sabotage a critical public health initiative and spread fear. “The anti-polio drive is a national obligation, and any attack on it is intolerable,” he said. He added that operations against the perpetrators would be intensified and vowed swift justice.

National leaders also responded strongly. President Asif Ali Zardari expressed grief over the loss of the police official’s life, reiterating Pakistan’s unwavering commitment to eradicating polio. “The fight against polio is not yet over, and we will not rest until it is completely eliminated,” he said.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also condemned the attack, calling it an attack on the future of the nation’s children. “Those who attempt to derail the polio campaign will be dealt with firmly,” he stated, expressing solidarity with the affected families and teams involved in the immunisation effort.

Authorities have vowed to bolster security measures for polio teams in vulnerable regions as the campaign continues in other parts of the country.