PESHAWAR: Gunmen in northwestern Pakistan shot and killed a female polio worker as she was returning home Wednesday after taking part in the country’s latest anti-polio campaign, police said.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack. However, militants often target polio teams and police assigned to protect them in Pakistan, falsely claiming the vaccination campaigns are a Western conspiracy to sterilize children.
Wednesday’s attack happened on the outskirts of the city of Peshawar. Iqra Iqbal was gunned down on her way home, said Iftikhar Khan, a police official.
Pakistan regularly launches anti-polio campaigns in an effort to eradicate the highly infectious disease. The latest five-day drive against polio started on Monday.
Since January last year, Pakistan has not reported any new cases, raising hopes the Islamic nation is close to becoming a polio-free country. Pakistan and Afghanistan are the only remaining countries in the world still trying to eradicate polio, which can cause severe paralysis in children.
Gunmen kill female polio worker in Pakistan vaccination campaign
https://arab.news/wh48v
Gunmen kill female polio worker in Pakistan vaccination campaign
- Iqra Iqbal was gunned down on her way home, according to police officials
- Pakistan has not reported any new polio case since January last year, raising hopes it is close to becoming polio-free
Pakistan advises citizens to avoid unnecessary travel to Iran after Israeli attack
- The attack comes as the US assembles a fleet of fighter jets, warships in region to try to pressure Iran into a nuclear deal
- Pakistanis in Iran must exercise caution, remain vigilant, minimize travel and stay in regular contact with missions, FO says
ISLAMABAD: The Foreign Office in Islamabad on Saturday advised Pakistanis to avoid unnecessary travel to Iran, while those who have already been in the Islamic republic were asked to exercise caution, following an Israeli attack on Iran.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz confirmed his country had launched the attack and declared a state of emergency as thick smoke rose from an explosion in downtown Tehran, Iran’s capital, AP reported.
It wasn’t immediately clear what the target of the Israeli attack was. But it comes as the United States has assembled a vast fleet of fighter jets and warships in the region to try to pressure Iran into a deal over its nuclear program.
Sounds of three explosions were heard in central Tehran, state media reported, while FARS news agency reported that several missiles have struck University Street and the Jomhouri area.
“Pakistani nationals are advised to avoid all non-mandatory travel to the Islamic Republic of Iran,” the Pakistani foreign office said in a statement.
“Pakistani nationals currently residing in Iran must exercise caution, remain vigilant, minimize non-essential travel, and stay in regular contact with the Pakistani missions.”
Sirens sounded across Israel at the same time. The Israeli military said that it had issued a “proactive alert to prepare the public for the possibility of missiles being launched toward the state of Israel.”
The Israeli Broadcasting Authority reported it was a joint Israeli-American attack on Iran. The US military declined to immediately comment on the attack.
Foreign airlines have suspended flights to Israel and were returning to their original destinations, media reports indicated.
— With input from AP.
