A anti-polio vaccination worker, identified as Rehmanullah, was shot dead in Karachi’s Ahsanabad area on Thursday morning. According to the victim’s cousin, Rehmanullah was a member of the anti-polio vaccination team and was on his way to duty when unidentified assailants opened fire on him.  He added that the deceased’s mobile phone, wallet, and motorcycle were found intact, suggesting that the motive was not robbery. 

A local lawyer told the media persons that this was the second killing of a young man in Ahsanabad within 20 days. Earlier, a man named Mansoor had been shot dead during an alleged robbery attempt.  Following that murder incident in the area, 22 FIRs were registered by local police against protesters demanding justice, the lawyer added.  The lawyer said the latest murder has spread fear and panic among residents, raising serious concerns over the area’s deteriorating security.

“If Rehmanullah doesn’t get justice, we will have no choice but to protest again,” he warned.  Both the victim’s cousin and the local lawyer condemned the incident, urging authorities to bring the culprits to justice and restore peace in the neighbourhood.  The killing comes just days before the launch of a nationwide polio immunisation campaign, scheduled from October 13 to 19, aiming to vaccinate over 45.4 million children under five across Pakistan. 

More than 400,000 frontline health workers and volunteers will participate in the drive. The campaign will also administer vitamin A supplements to boost immunity. The National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) has confirmed that 16 million children in Sindh will be covered under the upcoming campaign.  So far this year, 23 polio cases have been reported in Pakistan, one of the few remaining countries where the virus remains endemic. 

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)