Six arrested after a family attacked polio team in Karachi
A case was being registered against the suspects on the government’s instructions.
The police in Karachi arrested six individuals, including four women, on Friday, after a family attacked a polio vaccination team.
The incident occurred when the team insisted on administering polio drops to children in the Korangi area. This attack resulted in injuries to three members of the vaccination team.
As reported, two policemen also sustained injuries.
A statement from the spokesperson for the Korangi Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) stated that polio workers and their security team arrived at the home of a tribal family in an informal settlement, where they were “attacked” by the women present.
The statement further mentioned that the Korangi Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), along with other female officers and Rangers, responded to the scene. However, the family “reacted aggressively” and began throwing stones at the police.
The police quickly gained control of the situation, arresting four women and two boys. A case is being filed against the suspects as per government instructions.
“The family refused to allow their children to receive the polio vaccination and polio workers were attacked with sticks during the incident,” SSP Korangi told Geo News.
The arrested individuals have been identified as Samina, Mahjabeen, Amna, Iqra, Imran, and Sufiyan, he said.
Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah condemned the incident, emphasizing that any abuse of polio workers would not be tolerated.
CM Sindh has ordered all deputy commissioners (DC) to review the security of polio workers and directed the Korangi DC to meet and console the affected team.
Sindh Chief Secretary Syed Asif Hyder Shah directed the provision of immediate medical treatment to the impacted personnel and said the safety of polio workers was a top priority and should be ensured.
The attack is part of a troubling trend in Pakistan, where polio vaccination efforts have faced increasing violence. In recent years, there have been numerous assaults on health workers involved in vaccination campaigns, often fueled by misinformation about the vaccine and its perceived threats.
Pakistan has seen a resurgence of polio cases, with 63 confirmed in 2024 compared to just six in 2023.
Authorities have emphasized the need for community cooperation to ensure the safety of health workers and the success of vaccination campaigns. The government aims to vaccinate over 44 million children under five during ongoing campaigns.
