PESHAWAR: A policeman was killed and nine sustained injuries in twin blasts in Mathra area here on Wednesday when a polio team was administering drops to children.
According to police, unidentified men had placed improvised explosive device (IED) near Professor Dr Akbar’s residence. As soon as anti-polio drive reached the site, explosion took place and injured two people.
Police and Bomb Disposal Unit (BDU) reached the scene immediately. The second bomb went off when BDU was inspecting the area as a result of which eight people including a police personnel and Edhi worker got wounded.
One of the policemen succumbed to injuries on way to hospital. Police cordoned off the area after the attack however; no arrest has been made yet.
It is pertinent to mention here that last day of three-day anti-polio campaign is underway in Peshawar and its suburbs.
As a result of concerted efforts by the government and frequent anti polio immunization campaigns, the number of polio cases has declined in the recent years in Pakistan. Year 2015 witnessed 54 cases in the country which was an 80 percent fall from the earlier figures.
Reach of polio teams to remote areas in Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) of the country was supported by successful Operation Zarb-e-Azb that was launched in mid 2014 to eradicate militancy.
At least 98 percent of children were vaccinated against the crippling virus in FATA in March which was a big leap for health authorities compared with previous years when teams could not reach different areas owing to threats and insurgency.
