SWABI: Dr Muhammad Yaqoob, head of the Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) in the district, was shot dead and his driver injured here on Monday. Unidentified motorcyclists fired at them in jurisdiction of Zaida Police Station when they were on way to Bacha Khan Medical Complex at Shahmansoor from Dodher village in an official vehicle. The incident occurred on the Zaida Bypass. After hearing the gunshots, people rushed to the spot but the assailants had fled the scene within no time.The EPI chief died on the spot and his cousin Muhammad Irfan, who was driving the vehicle, sustained injuries. He was taken to the Bacha Khan Medical Complex and hospitalized. Soon after Dr Yaqoob’s killing, people of his village and doctors of the Bacha Khan Medical Complex placed his body on the Swabi-Jehangira Road to stage protest and demand arrest of the killers. The protestors blocked the road for all kinds of traffic for about two hours.Later, the officials of the district administration assured them that the killers would be arrested by the police within 48 hours. After getting this assurance, people took the body to Dodher village for burial. When contacted, District Police Officer Javed Iqbal said that it was too early to say anything about Dr Yaqoob’s killing but the incident seemed to be an act of terrorism.Meanwhile, the Paramedics Association announced one-day mourning while demanding the arrest of Dr Yaqoob’s killers. Meanwhile, unidentified assailants killed a cop and injured another when they opened fire on two policemen patrolling the area on a motorcycle here on Monday.DPO Javed Iqbal said the cops were performing routine duty in the assigned area of Thandkhui village on a motorbike when two unidentified assailants fired at them. The attackers were also riding a bike. Constable Imtiaz Khan, who belonged to Managi village, was killed on the spot and his colleague Ghulam Abbas was taken to Bacha Khan Hospital Complex at Shahmansoor town in an injured condition. When contacted, the doctors said that he was in a serious condition and preparing were being made to take him to a hospital in Peshawar.Officials said that it was a case of target killing and it seemed the incident was linked with terrorism.
