Attack on polio workers triggers strong condemnation

Islamabad: Thursday’s attack on two frontline polio workers in Balochistan has triggered strong condemnation, with both Minister for Health Saira Afzal and the Prime Minister’s Focal Person for Polio Eradication Ayesha Farooq terming the cowardly terrorist act as an effort on part of enemies working to weaken Pakistan’s resolve to eradicate the crippling disease.

“Terrorists cannot deter the resolve of the nation by doing such inhumane acts. The martyred workers have rather rekindled our resolve to eradicate polio from the country and save our future generations from this deadly disease,” the two health officials said in a statement issued subsequent to the attack, in which one ‘Sehat Muhafiz’ namely, Sakeena Bibi, along with her daughter Rizwana Bibi, were martyred by two unidentified motorcyclists while both were vaccinating children in Salkot, Quetta, during the ongoing nationwide polio campaign.

“I immediately talked to IG Balochistan after informing the Prime Minister, and would like to reiterate that these terrorists are afraid of Pakistan’s progress in the fight against polio. Certain enemies of Pakistan do not want us to eradicate polio from our country but let me tell them that our resolve cannot be defeated by such cowardly acts of terrorism,” Saira asserts in the statement.

Ayesha too sympathized with the bereaved family and while paying rich tributes to the martyrs, said “We salute all those who have given the ultimate sacrifice in this national cause, and would like to remind the nation that we will not let their sacrifice go waste; insetad, we will fulfill their dream by defeating polio in Pakistan.”

Pakistan has reported eight cases of polio in 2017. “Our success thus far and our struggle towards complete eradication of polio is dedicated to workers like Shaheed Sakeena and her daughter Shaheed Rizwana,” Ayesha added.

Security forces are said to have cordoned off the area, with an intense search underway to grab the culprits. Chief Minister Balochistan Mir Abdul Qadoos Bazinjo has also condoled with the bereaved family and has ordered the police to arrest the culprits at the earliest.