In a serious blow to public health efforts, terrorists of the banned group Fitna al-Khawarij abducted World Health Organisation (WHO) officers monitoring the polio vaccination campaign in Tank district.
The abducted officials; Dr. Ehsanullah, Hikmatullah, and Abdullah, were conducting essential field monitoring when they were forcibly taken from Umar Khel area under Malazai police jurisdiction. These officers play a vital role in overseeing polio immunisation activities, critical to eradicating the disease in the region.
The District Police Officer (DPO) of Tank confirmed that police teams have been deployed immediately to search for the abductees and bring them back safely. While the DPO referred to the kidnappers as “unknown,” security sources believe the attack was orchestrated by Khawarij militants. These terrorists have reportedly been losing support from external backers such as India, Israel, and parts of the Afghan Taliban due to relentless security force operations.
The kidnapping of WHO officers not only threatens their lives but also severely disrupts life-saving health campaigns in an already vulnerable region. It reflects the growing brazenness of terror groups who are willing to target humanitarian workers to destabilise government and international health initiatives.
It’s not the first incident of terror and abductions in southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa:
In June, three government officials, including Tank’s District Accounts Officer Naveed Zafar Khan, were abducted near Tank, and their whereabouts remain unknown.
In early July, a civilian was found beheaded near Lakki Marwat, with a threatening note signed by Fitna al-Khawarij. Around the same time, a 13-year-old boy was abducted and brutally murdered in Tank, with militants fabricating accusations to cover up the crime.
Later in July, reports from Karak’s Surdag area revealed that Khawarij have been abducting young boys from religious seminaries for forced recruitment and sexual exploitation, fueling fear and despair in local communities.
These incidents collectively highlight a dangerous escalation of terror activities in the region, directly threatening civilians, government officials, and humanitarian workers alike. Local communities and rights groups are calling for urgent and comprehensive action to protect lives and restore peace.
