A police officer assigned to safeguard polio workers was killed in a firing incident in Quetta, the capital city of Balochistan, on Friday.
According to reports, unidentified motorcycle-borne assailants opened fire and injured a police head constable appointed for the security of the polio campaign near Eastern Bypass School in Quetta. However, the polio team remained unharmed in the attack.
The injured policeman was immediately rushed to the Civil Hospital Quetta, where he succumbed to his injuries. The slain policeman has been identified as Head Constable Jameel Ahmed. Additionally, police officials confirmed the incident and launched an investigation into the matter.
In Pakistan, polio teams and security personnel have been attacked in the past. Many officials and volunteers have been killed in these attacks, while, in some cases, children receiving anti-polio vaccinations have also been targeted. Most of the attacks on polio teams in Balochistan have occurred in Quetta, Chaman, and Mastung, with religious armed groups claiming responsibility for most of these incidents.