A police officer was shot dead while protecting a polio vaccination team in Bajaur district near the Afghan border on Wednesday, officials confirmed.
According to police officer Niaz Muhammad, two gunmen on a motorcycle opened fire, killing the officer on the spot while the polio team remained unharmed.
The polio campaign in the district had already faced delays due to security concerns following a surge in militant attacks, said senior police official Waqas Rafiq. Despite the attack, the vaccination drive continues across the district, except for the incident site.
Polio primarily affects children under five, sometimes causing lifelong paralysis, but can be prevented with a few drops of oral vaccine.
