PESHAWAR: Pakistan reported two new cases of polio virus that bring the nationwide tally to 26 this year, the country’s polio program said on Monday, as official said unidentified gunmen had abducted three anti-polio vaccinators in the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province.
The kidnapping incident occurred in the jurisdiction of Mulazai police station in the volatile Tank district after armed men intercepted the health team and whisked them into the hills nearby, according to police.
Muhammad Ibrahim, a district police spokesman, told Arab News the abducted officials were identified as Abdullah Kundi, Hikmatullah and District Surveillance Officer Dr. Ihsan.
“A heavy police contingent has been dispatched to the area to launch a search and strike operation to recover kidnapped officials,” Ibrahim said.
Shortly afterwards, Pakistan’s polio program confirmed the virus in two infant girls in KP’s North Waziristan and Lakki Marwat districts.
