Karachi: Four anti-polio campaigners, three of them women, were gunned down in Karachi in an hour in two separate incidents on Tuesday while World Health Organization has halted the drive in the province with immediate effect.
News sources said two women campaigners were on their duty in Gulshan-e-Buner area of Landhi when they were shot at and killed. Only after a short while, two more workers were fired upon and killed in Korangi no. 11 by unknown men.
The bodies have been shifted to Jinnah Hospital for post-mortem.
The incident has panicked and horrified people of these areas, while security officials have reached the site of the tragedy.
It may be mentioned here that a male polio campaigner was shot at and critically injured in the city and later succumbed to his injuries yesterday, bringing the death toll since the inception of the drive to five.
More workers attacked
Another woman anti-polio campaigner has been killed while two male workers injured in a attack by motorcycle riders in Baldia Town, Karachi.
Meanwhile, a lady health-worker was injured as she received gun shots from unknown people in Mathra, Peshawar.
Peshawar worker succumbs to injuries
The woman anti-polio worker who was shot in Peshawar has succumbed to her injuries, bringing to six the death toll in the killings of the campaigners since yesterday.
President takes notice
President Asif Ali Zardari has sought report of the tragic incidents in Karachi and Peshawar. Moreover, Sindh Health Minister, Dr. Sagheer Ahmed has formally announced to suspend anti-polio campaign in the province.
Prime Minister, Raja Pervez Ashraf has also strongly condemned the incident and sought arrest of the culprits.
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