Bajaur,9 January 2024,(GNP): A bomb blast, directed at a police vehicle, resulted in the martyrdom of at least five police personnel and left 24 others injured in Mamund tehsil of Bajaur district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Monday, as reported by the media.
The police stated that the personnel were assigned to secure polio vaccination teams when the blast occurred. Concerns were raised about the possibility of additional casualties.
The authorities reported that the bodies and injured individuals were transported to Khar hospital.
An emergency was declared at the hospital, and a call for blood donations was issued to facilitate the treatment of the wounded personnel, as confirmed by the police.
The police spokesperson emphasized that all casualties were members of the police force.
Caretaker Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Syed Arshad Hussain Shah strongly condemned the blast, expressing sorrow for the lives lost.
He extended condolences to the families of the victims and instructed the district administration to promptly offer health facilities to the injured.
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“These cowardly attacks will not diminish the spirit of the police. The KP Police have made numerous sacrifices for the protection of people’s lives and properties,” he asserted, emphasizing that the families of the martyrs would not be left alone. He pledged assistance through every possible means.
Pakistan and neighboring Afghanistan are the only two countries where polio remains endemic, with vaccination teams often targeted by militants.
Despite these challenges, all preparations have been completed for the seven-day nationwide anti-polio campaign.
Karachi Commissioner Muhammad Salim Rajput has instructed polio workers to aim for a 100% target in vaccinating children under five years old with polio drops for the next five years.
Emphasizing that the threat of the polio virus will persist unless every child receives these drops, he urged dedicated efforts from the vaccination teams.
Concerted efforts are underway to persuade parents who may resist vaccination for their children.
Detailed plans are being formulated, encompassing lists of children and their parents. Additionally, reports on barriers to vaccination have been compiled to address and overcome challenges in the process.
