Syed Jawaid Iqbal expressed his deep sense of shock and sorrow on the killings that appear to have been undertaken in a very co-ordinated manner and are aimed at halting the polio vaccination campaign that has been underway across the country. He said, the role of polio workers was crucial to the success of polio eradication in Pakistan and hoped the government would ensure the full security of vaccination teams taking part in the immunisation drive.
Jawaid said that besides providing the necessary security measures, the government should also take concrete steps to remove the mindset that is behind the hateful campaign to kill and maim health workers involved in the polio vaccination campaign. He said it was unfortunate that besides the federal, Sindh and KPK governments stopping the vaccination campaign from proceeding any further, the World Health Organisation (WHO) too has directed its field staff to stop their work in Pakistan.-PR