Police arrested six people, including four women, on 20 December 2024 for allegedly attacking and injuring polio workers and policemen after an anti- polio team attempted to administer polio drops to children in Karachi’s Korangi area.
The incident took place at a slum area in Korangi during a government-led anti-polio campaign. When the polio team visited a house to administer polio drops to children, the family living there initially argued with them, refusing to allow the children to be vaccinated.
After a heated exchange, the men and women in the house resorted to violence against the anti-polio team comprising Saba, Rabia and Dr Khalid, accompanied by policemen, namely Taufiq, Jahangir and a lady police constable Aniza Naz.
The family members manhandled the team and also used a shovel to attack them, resulting in injuries to polio workers and a police officer. The family tore the police officers’ uniforms, slapped them and snatched their mobile phones. The injured individuals were immediately taken to a nearby hospital for medical treatment.
Upon receiving the information, a large contingent of police arrived at the scene and arrested the suspects. The arrested women were identified as Samina, wife of Sheena Khan, Mehjabeen, wife of Suleman, Amna, daughter of Naseem Gul, and Iqra, daughter of Sheena Khan while the male family members who were taken into custody were identified as Gul Imran and Sufiyan. Police said a case would be registered against the family.
CS takes notice
Sindh Chief Secretary Syed Asif Hyder Shah on Friday took notice of the attack on polio workers in Korangi and directed the Karachi additional IG to ensure the immediate arrest of all the culprits involved.
He stated that violence against polio workers would not be tolerated under any circumstances, and strict legal action would be taken against those responsible.
The chief secretary also instructed the Korangi deputy commissioner to conduct a thorough investigation into the incident and take prompt and decisive action against the offenders. Additionally, he called for providing immediate medical assistance to the injured polio workers and police personnel.
Shah reiterated that the safety of polio workers was the government’s top priority. He directed all the relevant authorities to ensure the security of polio workers so that they could carry out their duties without fear or hindrance.
He stated that the Sindh government was committed to eradicating polio and would take all necessary measures to prevent such incidents in the future. The chief secretary called the polio workers heroes who were fight the debilitating disease. He stated that any form of violence against the polio workers would be dealt with strictly.
Commissioner’s visit
Karachi Commissioner Syed Hassan Naqvi on Friday visited District Keamari to oversee the ongoing anti-polio campaign. He was accompanied by the Coordinator of the Commissioner Polio Task Force Saud Yaqoob, Keamari deputy commissioner and others.
The seven-day anti-polio campaign in Karachi is scheduled to conclude on December 22. The commissioner inspected the union committee V where a polio case was reported this month. The affected child, Muhammad Noor, is three years old.
Naqvi directed the deputy commissioner to declare Machhar Colony in UC-5 a sensitive area and prioritise anti-polio efforts in the region. The commissioner further instructed the deputy commissioner to ensure special monitoring of children entering or leaving the city. “Every child must be administered polio drops,” he asserted.
A day earlier on Thursday, the commissioner visited the Inter-City Bus Terminal where he reviewed arrangements for administering polio drops to children travelling in and out of the city. He directed all the deputy commissioners to take necessary measures to ensure comprehensive coverage.
Published in News Daily on 21 December 2024.