6 arrested after polio team ‘attacked’ by family in Karachi’s Korangi

Six people were arrested on Friday after a polio vaccination team and policemen accompanying them were allegedly “attacked” by residents in an informal settlement in Karachi’s Korangi.

Pakistan is one of the last two countries in the world, alongside Afghanistan, where polio remains endemic, with the disease mostly affecting children under five, and sometimes causing lifelong paralysis. Despite global efforts to eradicate the virus, challenges such as security issues, vaccine hesitancy, and misinformation have slowed progress.

Amid persistent alarm over polio, the Sindh government launched a week-long immunisation drive on Monday against the debilitating disease that has so far affected 18 children in Sindh.

This year’s last polio vaccination drive targets 10.6 million children under the age of five. A total of 64 children in Pakistan have contracted the poliovirus this year.

A statement from the Korangi senior superintendent of police’s (SSP) spokesperson said polio personnel and their security staff arrived at the door of a tribal family in an illegal settlement and were subsequently “attacked” by the women present.

It added that the Korangi deputy superintendent of police (DSP) arrived at the spot along with other female police officers and Rangers, upon which the family “reacted strongly and started pelting stones at the police”.

The statement said the police immediately took control of the situation and arrested four women and two boys, adding that a case was being registered against the suspects on the government’s instructions.

Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah took notice of the incident and said any abuse of polio workers would not be tolerated.

The chief minister was informed by Karachi Additional Inspector General of Police Javed Odho that action had been taken against the suspects.

CM Shah ordered all deputy commissioners (DC) to review the security of polio workers and directed the Korangi DC to meet and console the affected team.

Sindh Chief Secretary Syed Asif Hyder Shah directed the provision of immediate medical treatment to the impacted personnel and said the safety of polio workers was a top priority and should be ensured.

from The Dawn News - Home https://ift.tt/gb135a0

Comments

The Republican primary race for president in 2024

The Republican primary race for president in 2024 is already shaping up to be a competitive one. There are a number of high-profile candidates who have already announced their intention to run, and more are expected to join the field in the coming months. The frontrunner for the nomination is former President Donald Trump. Trump has been teasing a 2024 run for months, and he has a large and loyal following among Republican voters. However, he is also a polarizing figure, and his candidacy could alienate some moderate Republicans. Another potential contender for the nomination is Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. DeSantis has been praised by many conservatives for his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and his opposition to vaccine mandates. He is also seen as a rising star in the Republican Party. Other potential candidates include former Vice President Mike Pence, former Ambassador Nikki Haley, and Senator Tim Scott. Pence is a more traditional Republican who could appeal to moderate vote...

Ministers rubbish notion that proposed retirement age extension to favour ‘one particular institution’

Information Minister Attaullah Tarar on Tuesday rubbished the notion that a proposed extension in the retirement age was to favour “one particular institution”, adding that the move would be implemented across the board if approved. The rebuttal comes in the wake of media reports claiming that the government was mulling changes to the Constitution to fix the tenure of the chief justice . Currently, judges of the Supreme Court, including the chief justice, retire after attaining the age of superannuation, i.e. 65 years, as stipulated in Article 179 of the Constitution. While giving his opinion recently on the reports of the constitutional amendment, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar had said he “will not vehemently turn down the proposals related to the tenure of the chief justice”. Addressing the issue during a press conference in Islamabad today along since Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb and the law minister, Attaullah said the extension in the retirement age was “a proposal to a...

Taylor Swift cheers on Travis Kelce at Kansas City Chiefs game as ‘Eras Tour’ movie opens in theaters.

Taylor Swift took a break from promoting her new movie "Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour" to cheer on Travis Kelce and the Kansas City Chiefs at their game against the Denver Broncos on October 12, 2023. Swift was seen in a luxury suite with Kelce's mom, Donna Kelce, wearing a red Chiefs jacket. This was Swift's third Chiefs game of the season, and she has been seen cheering on Kelce from the sidelines on several occasions. The two have been rumored to be dating since early 2023, and they have been spotted together at a number of events. The Chiefs won the game against the Broncos 19-8, and Swift was seen celebrating with Kelce and his teammates after the game. She also took some time to meet with some of the Chiefs fans who were waiting outside the stadium. It is clear that Swift is a big supporter of Kelce and the Chiefs, and her presence at the game was sure to thrill fans of both. It is also interesting to note that she took time away from promoting her new movie to ...

Infinity Social Updates

Search This Blog