Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) saw a tragic incident on Monday as gunmen attacked personnel safeguarding polio vaccination teams in Hangu, resulting in the martyrdom of a police officer and injuries to four others, as confirmed by police to The Express Tribune.
The attack took place near Chapri Waziran within the jurisdiction of Thall Police Station, with the deceased officer identified as Israrul Haq, a resident of Shangla undergoing an intermediate-level Police Training Course (PTC).
Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Irfan Tariq of Kohat mentioned that two attackers were killed in a swift response by the police, while others managed to escape. A search operation is ongoing in the area to apprehend those involved, with the DIG praising the personnel for their courage in thwarting the attack and ensuring that the militants will face consequences.
The injured personnel were promptly taken to a hospital in Hangu for medical treatment.
Chief Minister Sohail Afridi of K-P strongly denounced the attack, emphasizing that targeting those on national duty is a cowardly act by terrorists and assuring full support to the affected families. Governor Faisal Karim Kundi echoed these sentiments, condemning the assault and emphasizing zero tolerance towards militants attacking security forces protecting polio teams.
The incident occurred at the start of a nationwide anti-polio campaign aiming to vaccinate over 45 million children under five years old. Polio workers conducting door-to-door immunization drives have faced repeated attacks by militants, particularly in K-P and Balochistan.
In 2024, at least 20 people were killed and 53 injured during anti-polio operations in K-P. The National Emergency Operations Centre for Polio Eradication reported Pakistan’s first wild poliovirus case of 2026 on March 5 in a four-year-old child from Sujawal district in Sindh.
Despite progress, Pakistan remains among the countries where polio remains a threat, underscoring the need for sustained vigilance and public cooperation to stop transmission.
Earlier this year, reports revealed that approximately one million children were missed during the initial nationwide polio campaign, with Karachi having the highest refusal rate, accounting for 58% of the nationwide refusals. The campaign concluded in most parts of the country on February 5, extending until February 8 in Sindh.
