Latest news with #Noshki
CTV News
27-05-2025
- Health
- CTV News
Gunmen kill police officer assigned to protect polio workers in southwestern Pakistan
This is a locator map for Pakistan with its capital, Islamabad, and the Kashmir region. (AP Photo) QUETTA, Pakistan — Gunmen shot and killed a police officer assigned to protect polio workers in southwestern Pakistan on Tuesday before fleeing the scene, police and officials said. The attack occurred in Noshki, a district in Balochistan province, local police official Mohammad Hassan said, adding that the polio workers escaped unharmed in the attack. The female health workers were administering oral polio vaccine drops to children inside a house when the assailants opened fire on the officer, Abdul Waheed, who died on the way to the hospital, Hassan said. No one immediately claimed responsibility for the assault, but suspicion is likely to fall on separatist groups and Pakistani Taliban that have stepped up attacks on security forces and civilians in recent months. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi in separate statements denounced the assault and vowed stern action against those behind the attack, which came a day after Pakistan launched the nationwide campaign to vaccinate 45 million children from polio. Pakistan and neighboring Afghanistan remain the only two countries where the spread of the wild polio virus hasn't been stopped, according to the World Health Organization. There are ongoing outbreaks of polio linked to the oral vaccine in 10 other countries, mostly in Africa. Since January, Pakistan has reported 10 polio cases from various parts of the country despite the launch of immunization drives. Last year, the South Asian country witnessed a surge in polio cases, which jumped to 74, though it reported only one polio case in 2021. Since the 1990s, more than 200 polio workers and the police assigned to protect them have been killed in attacks. The Associated Press
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Gunmen shoot and kill policeman assigned to protect polio workers in restive NW Pakistan
QUETTA, Pakistan (AP) — Gunmen shot and killed a policeman assigned to protect polio workers in restive southwestern Pakistan on Tuesday before fleeing the scene, police and officials said. The attack occurred in Noshki, a district in Balochistan province, local police official Mohammad Hassan said, adding that the polio workers escaped unharmed in the attack. No one immediately claimed responsibility for the assault, but suspicion is likely to fall on separatist groups and Pakistani Taliban that have stepped up attacks on security forces and civilians in recent months. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi in a statement denounced the assault and vowed stern action against those who are behind the attack, which came a day after Pakistan launched the nationwide campaign to vaccinate 45 million children from polio. Pakistan and neighboring Afghanistan remain the only two countries where the potentially fatal, paralyzing virus hasn't been stopped, according to the World Health Organization. Since January, Pakistan has reported 10 polio cases from various parts of the country despite the launch of anti-polio drives. Last year, the South Asian country witnessed a surge in polio cases, which jumped to 74, though it reported only one polio case in 2021. Since the 1990s, more than 200 polio workers and the police assigned to protect them have been killed in attacks.
Associated Press
27-05-2025
- Health
- Associated Press
Gunmen shoot and kill policeman assigned to protect polio workers in restive NW Pakistan
QUETTA, Pakistan (AP) — Gunmen shot and killed a policeman assigned to protect polio workers in restive southwestern Pakistan on Tuesday before fleeing the scene, police and officials said. The attack occurred in Noshki, a district in Balochistan province, local police official Mohammad Hassan said, adding that the polio workers escaped unharmed in the attack. No one immediately claimed responsibility for the assault, but suspicion is likely to fall on separatist groups and Pakistani Taliban that have stepped up attacks on security forces and civilians in recent months. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi in a statement denounced the assault and vowed stern action against those who are behind the attack, which came a day after Pakistan launched the nationwide campaign to vaccinate 45 million children from polio. Pakistan and neighboring Afghanistan remain the only two countries where the potentially fatal, paralyzing virus hasn't been stopped, according to the World Health Organization. Since January, Pakistan has reported 10 polio cases from various parts of the country despite the launch of anti-polio drives. Last year, the South Asian country witnessed a surge in polio cases, which jumped to 74, though it reported only one polio case in 2021. Since the 1990s, more than 200 polio workers and the police assigned to protect them have been killed in attacks.
