However, anti-state elements attacked these workers just to tarnish the image of the country internationally, he added. He said that he would address a press conference on Wednesday at Karachi Press Club (KPC) and brief media about regarding the issue. It may be noted here that four female polio vaccination workers have been shot dead in a string of attacks across the Karachi. And, the fifth woman was killed in Peshawar.
A male health worker was shot dead in Karachi on Monday. Following this, WHO has also announced to suspend its work in Karachi. Meanwhile, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah condemned the attacks and praised the work of the polio vaccination teams, calling on police authorities to guarantee their safety.
He also directed the additional I.G Karachi police to submit report about this heinous and cowards incident within 24 hours and culprits be arrested early. On the other hand, Chief of All Pakistan Muslim League (APML) General Pervez Musharraf (Redt) also condemned the killing of Polio workers in Karachi, saying that this has been done by the enemies of Pakistan.
Sources in health department told Business Recorder that the latest three-day nation-wide anti-polio drive- during which an estimated 5.2 million polio drops were to be administered, has been suspended in Karachi. "Our country is considered as key-battleground in the global fight against this disease, which attacks the nervous system and can cause permanent paralysis within hours of infection," a senior health official said.
Nearly 200 children were paralysed in the country in 2011 - the worst figures in 15 years. Earlier this year, the Global Polio Eradication Initiative warned that tackling the disease had entered "emergency mode" after "explosive" outbreaks in countries previously free of polio, he added.