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QUETTA: A targeted anti-polio vaccination campaign will begin on Monday across 62 high-risk union councils in 13 districts of Balochistan as health authorities intensify efforts to stop the spread of the poliovirus and protect children from lifelong disability. According to the Provincial Emergency Operations Centre (EOC), the campaign will cover 209,557 children under the age of five. Trained vaccination teams will visit homes and designated centres to administer oral polio vaccine free of charge. Officials said 862 mobile vaccination teams have been deployed to conduct the campaign. In addition, 61 fixed vaccination centres and 72 transit vaccination points have been established to ensure that children travelling with their families or living in hard-to-reach areas are not missed. The EOC said the campaign is focused on high-risk union councils where the threat of poliovirus transmission remains significant. Health authorities noted that the virus continues to circulate in some parts of the province, making regular vaccination campaigns essential to prevent new infections. Officials stressed that polio is an incurable disease that can cause permanent paralysis, but it is completely preventable through timely vaccination. They urged parents to cooperate with vaccination teams and ensure that every eligible child receives polio drops during the campaign. The EOC warned that every child who remains unvaccinated increases the risk of virus transmission within the community. Officials said even a small number of missed children can allow the virus to continue circulating and endanger other children. The campaign will be carried out in Barkhan, Dukki, Jaffarabad, Jhal Magsi, Loralai, Qila Saifullah, Nasirabad, Sherani, Sohbatpur, Usta Muhammad, Zhob, Ziarat and Mastung. Special arrangements have been made in these districts to achieve maximum vaccination coverage. Health authorities said supervisors and monitoring teams will oversee the campaign to ensure transparency, improve performance and address any operational challenges. Officials added that vaccination teams have been instructed to reach every household in the targeted areas.

PESHAWAR: Two police personnel sustained minor injuries after an improvised explosive device (IED) exploded near a police vehicle in Peshawar on Sunday, officials said. The blast occurred near Pir Zakorhi Bridge, close to the Peshawar-Islamabad Motorway toll plaza, where a police van was travelling on routine duty. The explosion damaged the vehicle and left the driver and a police constable with minor injuries. Rescue teams and law enforcement officials quickly reached the site and shifted the injured officers to a nearby hospital for medical treatment. Authorities said both policemen were in stable condition and suffered only minor wounds. The Bomb Disposal Unit (BDU) launched a search operation in the surrounding area after the explosion. Initial findings suggested that the explosive device had been planted along the roadside in a green belt and was detonated as the police vehicle passed by. Security personnel thoroughly scanned the area to ensure no additional explosive devices were present. Police cordoned off the scene and began collecting evidence to determine those responsible for the attack. An investigation has been launched, while officials are examining the nature of the explosive and the method used in the incident. The latest attack comes amid a surge in militant violence across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. In recent days, several security personnel have lost their lives in separate terrorist attacks and counterterrorism operations in different parts of the province.

Security forces have intensified intelligence-based operations across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa over the past two months, resulting in the killing of multiple militants and the destruction of several militant hideouts, according to security sources. The operations were conducted under Operation 11 Gurj, which is aimed at dismantling militant networks and preventing terrorist activities in the province. During the campaign, security forces carried out a series of targeted raids based on intelligence reports in different districts. According to the sources, several militants were killed during these operations, while their hideouts were successfully destroyed. The forces also apprehended a number of suspected facilitators believed to have been providing logistical and operational support to militant groups. Security personnel recovered a large quantity of weapons, ammunition and other military equipment during the raids. Officials said the seized material was intended to be used in future terrorist attacks. One of the major operations was conducted in the Shakro area of Bajaur district, where security forces targeted militant hideouts after receiving credible intelligence. Reports indicated that several militants were killed, while others sustained injuries during the operation. The forces also located and destroyed multiple improvised explosive devices (IEDs) found in the area. Officials said eliminating these explosives helped prevent potential attacks and improved the safety of local residents. Ground troops, supported by quadcopter surveillance, were used throughout the operations to identify militant positions and monitor movements before launching precise strikes. Security officials said the use of modern surveillance technology enhanced the effectiveness of the operations and reduced risks to security personnel. According to security sources, the operations form part of an ongoing campaign to eliminate militant infrastructure, disrupt terrorist networks and strengthen peace and stability across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Authorities reiterated that intelligence-based operations will continue until all militant elements are dismantled and the security situation is fully brought under control.

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has strongly condemned the killing of party worker Mushtaq Shah in LA-31 during the second phase of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Legislative Assembly elections. In a statement, Bilawal expressed his condolences to the bereaved family and said the incident was deeply tragic. He prayed for the deceased and extended sympathy to his relatives. Bilawal alleged that the earlier attack on senior PPP leader Chaudhry Latif Akbar, followed by the killing of Mushtaq Shah, reflected what he described as the intentions of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) during the election process. He further claimed that if the elections were influenced through rigging, it would undermine public confidence in state institutions. According to Bilawal, the use of violence, intimidation and coercive tactics to influence voters was unacceptable. The PPP chairman also accused the PML-N of attempting to influence the electoral process in Azad Kashmir through force and pressure. He called for a transparent, peaceful and fair election, urging the relevant authorities to ensure that every voter could exercise their democratic right without fear. Polling is currently underway for the second phase of the AJK Legislative Assembly elections, covering nine general constituencies in Muzaffarabad Division and 12 refugee constituencies located across different parts of Pakistan. Election authorities have deployed security personnel at polling stations to maintain law and order as voting continues across the constituencies. Meanwhile, the Election Commission has reiterated its commitment to ensuring a transparent electoral process and taking action against any violations of the election code of conduct.