Two Held as Anti-Polio Drive Faces Resistance in Islamabad

News Desk

Islamabad: A five-day door-to-door anti-polio vaccination campaign is underway in Islamabad, entering its second day. The campaign saw the arrest of a school principal for refusing to allow students to be vaccinated against polio.

The Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) administration, along with all Assistant Commissioners, is actively participating in the field to ensure the campaign’s success, according to an ICT administration spokesman. The district administration has called for full public cooperation to achieve the campaign’s objectives.

Assistant Commissioner Pothohar, Aneeq Anwar, visited the Jhangi Syedan area, while AC Secretariat Abdullah Khan monitored the campaign in Bari Imam, Barakahu, and Phulgran. During these visits, several challenges faced by polio workers were identified, prompting authorities to urge residents to cooperate with health teams.

One individual was arrested for refusing to allow polio workers to vaccinate children. The district administration reiterated that parents must ensure their children receive polio drops, warning that refusal to vaccinate is a punishable offense.

In a separate incident, the principal of a private school in the Nilore area was also arrested for preventing polio workers from vaccinating students. Although the principal was later released after discussions with the district administration, the incident underscored the legal obligation to cooperate with polio workers.

Authorities stressed that obstructing polio workers is a criminal act. They appealed to all citizens, particularly school administrations, to fully support the ongoing polio campaign, emphasizing that protecting children from polio is a collective responsibility and that refusal endangers the entire community.