Policeman martyred in attack on polio team in South Waziristan

South Waziristan (Web Desk): A police constable was martyred and a terrorist killed during a fierce exchange of gunfire after an attack on security personnel guarding a polio vaccination team in South Waziristan district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP).

According to police, the incident took place while the constable was on duty, ensuring the safety of the health workers participating in the ongoing anti-polio campaign.

Following the encounter, law enforcement recovered a cache of weapons from the killed militant, including a rocket launcher and a machine gun, along with two motorcycles.

Additionally, authorities found a national identity card, three ATM cards, and a smartphone in the terrorist’s possession, which may assist in further investigation.

A case related to the attack has been officially registered at the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) Azam Warsak police station.

This assault comes just a day after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif inaugurated the country’s second nationwide polio vaccination drive of the year, scheduled to run from April 21 to April 27.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday strongly condemned a terrorist attack on police personnel deployed to protect polio vaccination team in District South Waziristan.

The prime minister expressed deep grief over shahadat of police constable and prayed for the eternal peace of the departed soul and for the bereaved family to bear the loss with fortitude.

As per a statement issued by PM Office Media Wing, prime minister directed for provision of swift medical treatment to those injured in the incident.

He said terrorists attacking workers of anti-polio drive teams and the personnel deployed to protect them, had been the enemies of humanity and the nation.

PM Shehbaz also expressed the resolve to bring terrorists to justice who had been inflicting harm on the lives and properties of the innocent citizens.

He further appealed the nation to counter such elements by resisting their pressure and reiterated to continue the polio campaign.

“The government and the law enforcement agencies had been working day and night to root out the spectre of terrorism from the country,” PM Shehbaz said.