Armed men have gunned down a health official supervising an antipolio drive in Pakistan's lawless tribal areas.
The incident occurred on March 26 in the Khyber tribal district, among seven located along the porous border with Afghanistan.
Local officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, told RFE/RL’s Radio Mashaal that 40-year-old Akhtar Khan was in his clinic in Khyber's Lwargi area when armed men opened fire and killed him on the spot.
Police said one suspect had been arrested.
No one so far has claimed responsibility for the attack, but militants in the area have previously threatened and attacked polio workers in the locality.
Polio vaccinators are regularly targeted in Pakistan and neighboring Afghanistan, in areas outside government control, slowing progress in wiping out the debilitating disease.
Militants say the polio vaccination campaign is a cover for Western spies or a conspiracy to sterilize Pakistani children.
Pakistan and Afghanistan are the only two countries where the disease is still endemic.
Editors' Picks
Afghanistan/Pakistan Trending
1
Once Allies, Pakistan And Afghan Taliban Lurch Toward Full-Blown Conflict
2Fierce Fighting, High Number Of Casualties Reported Along Pakistan-Afghanistan Border
3Afghanistan's Taliban 'Here To Stay' As It Gains De Facto International Acceptance
4Kabul Gripped By Fear Of More Attacks After Suspected Pakistani Air Strikes
5Afghanistan And Pakistan Agree Cease-Fire After Deadly Air Strikes And Ground Fighting
6At Least 27 Dead, Scores Injured As Earthquake Rocks Northern Afghanistan
7Afghanistan, Pakistan To Hold Peace Talks In Doha Amid Fragile Cease-Fire
8Afghan, Pakistani Negotiators Begin Talks In Doha After Deadly Clashes
9Taliban Says Peace Talks With Pakistan Collapse But Cease-Fire Will Hold
10Survivors Of Afghanistan-Pakistan Conflict Describe Toll On Civilians
RFE/RL has been declared an "undesirable organization" by the Russian government.
If you are in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine and hold a Russian passport or are a stateless person residing permanently in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine, please note that you could face fines or imprisonment for sharing, liking, commenting on, or saving our content, or for contacting us.
To find out more, click here.
