KARACHI: A suspect has been arrested for allegedly harassing a team of polio workers who were on duty in a Jamshoro neighbourhood, police said.
Jamshoro Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Zaffar Siddiq Chhanga told Dawn.com that local residents allegedly stopped the team, led by health workers Amir Abro and Sanam Mallah, when they arrived in the area to administer polio drops to children.
“The locals refused to let the team administer polio drops and hurled insults at them,” the SSP said. “One suspect was arrested and booked for interfering with government duties upon the complaint of the polio workers.”
A case was registered at Jamshoro police station under Sections 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty) and 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace) of the Pakistan Penal Code.
Meanwhile, Jamshoro District Health Officer Imamuddin Khoso told Dawn.com that lady health workers in Jamshoro face harassment while administering polio drops.
He said that during the polio campaign in Jamshoro’s RBB Colony, “a person refused to receive polio drops and hurled abuses at lady health workers”. Videos of the incident also went viral on social media.
“When our polio workers were in the field, they were abused,” the DHO said, adding that the police have arrested the suspect and are taking legal action.“
Published in Dawn News on 15th September 2024.