Vaccination Program In Pakistan Suspended Over Murders

Polio Vaccinations Suspended In Pakistan Following Shootings -- NPR

The World Health Organization says the Pakistani polio vaccination campaign is temporarily suspended because of "multiple attacks" against health workers.

At least eight Pakistani health workers were shot to death this week all over Pakistan as they administered the vaccination to children. The Associated Press is reporting a ninth person has died: a 20-year-old man who'd been shot in the head in Peshawar.

As NPR's Dina Temple-Raston reported yesterday, six people were killed on Tuesday as they went house-to-house to treat children. At that time, Pakistan was determined to continue vaccinating children. Now the WHO says Pakistan and "affected" provinces are concerned over the safety of health workers, and they're shutting the program down for now. U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon called the slayings "senseless and inexcusable".

Read more ....

More News On Polio Vaccinations Suspended In Pakistan Following Shootings

Anti-Polio Campaign Suspended in Pakistan After 8 Murders -- Voice of America
Pakistan polio program suspended -- Sydney Morning Herald
Pakistan’s polio vaccine program proving lethal for health workers -- National Post
Pakistan reports 9th death in polio team attacks -- AP
Female Vaccination Workers, Essential in Pakistan, Become Prey -- New York Times
Pakistan polio campaign attacks 'horrific' -- BBC
Pakistani Clerics Condemn Attacks on Polio Workers -- Voice of America
Pakistan clerics calls for protests against polio worker killings -- Reuters
Polio workers speak out on Pakistan attacks -- BBC
Militants and rumours undermine Pakistan polio fight -- AFP
Western plot to sterilize Muslims? Polio vaccine rumors spark killings in Pakistan -- NBC

Taliban Murders 6 Anti-Polio Workers Across Pakistan In 24 Hours

Pakistan Gunmen Kill Six Anti-Polio Workers In 24 Hours -- Reuters

Dec 18 (Reuters) - Gunmen shot dead six health workers on an anti-polio drive in a string of attacks in Pakistan over 24 hours, officials said on Tuesday, raising fears for the future of efforts to eradicate the crippling disease in one of its last strongholds.

It was not clear who was behind the shootings but Taliban insurgents have repeatedly denounced the vaccination campaign, which aims to wipe out polio in one of the last three countries where it is endemic, as a Western plot.

"Such attacks deprive Pakistani's most vulnerable population - especially children - of basic life-saving health interventions," the World Health Organisation and the U.N. Children's Fund (UNICEF), which are working with the Pakistani government on the campaign, said in a joint statement.

Read more ....

More News On Today`s Targeted Killings Of Anti-Polio Workers In Pakistan

Pakistan polio campaign suspended after attacks on health workers -- CNN
Gunmen Kill Anti-Polio Workers in Attacks in Pakistan -- New York Times
Female polio workers gunned down in Pakistan -- Al Jazeera
Militants kill polio vaccination workers -- Sydney Morning Herald
Polio vaccination workers shot dead in Pakistan -- The Guardian
Gunmen Kill Five Polio Workers in Pakistan -- Voice of America
Karachi polio killings: Vaccination workers shot -- BBC

Mobile Cell Phone Service In Pakistan Disabled To Prevent Sectarian Attacks

A soldier from Pakistan's paramilitary Rangers forces patrols on a road ahead of the Ashura ceremony to mark the death of Hussein, the grandson of Prophet Mohammad, in Lahore November 23, 2012. Pakistan is suspending cell phone service coverage in major cities this weekend and mobilizing thousands of extra security to prevent sectarian violence during a key religious event, a government minister said on Friday. REUTERS/Mohsin Raza

Pakistan Suspends Mobile Networks Over Fears Of Attacks -- BBC

Pakistan's authorities are suspending mobile phone services in major cities to prevent sectarian violence during key Shia Muslim commemorations.

More than 90% of bombs are detonated by attackers using phones, officials say.

In some areas, motorbikes carrying passengers have been banned because of fears that this is how attackers could be brought to their targets.

Attacks on minority Shia by hard-line Sunnis have increased in recent months across Pakistan.

In the deadliest attack this week, 23 people were killed at a Shia procession in the city of Rawalpindi.

Read more ....

Update #1: Pakistan suspends mobile networks -- Irish Times
Update #2: Pakistan cuts phones in hope of stopping attacks on Shi'ites -- NBC/Reuters

My Comment: Extremists will find a way to circumvent these restriction.

Pakistan Struck By Multiple Terror Attacks

37 Killed, 92 Injured In Pakistan Terror Strikes -- Times of India

ISLAMABAD: At least 37 people have been killed and over 90 others injured in Pakistan since Wednesday, Xinhua reported.

A total of 28 people were killed and 77 others injured in Pakistani cities of Peshawar and Karachi since Wednesday night. Claiming responsibility for both the attacks, Pakistan Taliban Thursday warned of more such attacks in the near future.

In Rawalpindi, in a sectarian attack Wednesday night, 23 people were killed and 62 others including eight children were injured when a suicide bomber hit a procession of Shia Muslims in the city, said Deeba Shehnaz, spokeswoman of state rescue department.

Read more ....

More News On Today's terror Attacks In Pakistan

Dozens killed in string of Pakistan attacks -- Al Jazeera
Pakistan attacks kill 37 as key summit begins -- Hindustan Times
37 killed, 92 injured as blasts jolt Pakistan -- Xinhuanet
Dozens Killed In Pakistan Bombings; Taliban Claim Responsibility -- Radio Free Europe
Taliban claim blasts killing dozens in Pakistan -- CNN
Pakistan Suicide Bomber Kills 23 -- Voice of America
Taliban Suicide Bomber Strikes in Pakistan -- Voice of America
Taliban bomber kills Pakistan Shia marchers -- BBC
Day of Suicide Attacks Heightens Fears in Pakistan -- New York Times