Estimated read time: Less than a minute
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
PESHAWAR, Pakistan (AP) — Pakistani police say gunmen have killed a physician who was instrumental in an anti-polio drive in the northwestern city of Peshawar.
Police said Monday that Dr. Zaka Ullah was gunned down over the weekend, when he was returning home after evening prayers. It is unclear whether the physician was targeted for his role in the country's anti-polio campaign.
Islamic militants have attacked vaccination centers and health workers taking part in anti-polio campaigns, which they view as part of a Western conspiracy to sterilize children or collect intelligence.
Pakistan and Afghanistan are among the only countries in the world where polio is endemic, but Pakistan has made some progress in recent months. According to the World Health Organization, more than 15.5 million children across Pakistan's highest-risk districts received vaccines last month.
Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
