In a serious blow to public health efforts, three officials affiliated with the World Health Organization (WHO) were abducted by unknown gunmen while monitoring the polio vaccination campaign in Tank district, southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

According to the District Police Officer (DPO), the abducted individuals have been identified as Dr. Ehsanullah, Hikmatullah, and Abdullah. They were on field duty when they were taken from the Umar Khel area, within the jurisdiction of Malazai police station.

Law enforcement teams have launched a search operation in the surrounding areas to locate the abductees and identify the perpetrators. No group has claimed responsibility so far, and investigations are underway.

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The kidnapping has raised serious concerns over the safety of frontline health workers, especially those involved in the polio eradication campaign. Officials warn that such incidents not only put lives at risk but also disrupt critical vaccination drives in high-risk regions.

This is not the first such incident in the area.

Over the past few months, southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has witnessed several disturbing incidents involving abductions and targeted killings:

In June, three government officers, including Tank’s District Accounts Officer, were abducted near Hathala while traveling from Dera Ismail Khan to Tank.

In July, a civilian was found beheaded in Lakki Marwat, followed shortly by the killing of a 13-year-old boy in Tank. Both incidents were accompanied by threatening notes.

Later that month, reports emerged from Karak’s Surdag area, where unknown individuals allegedly abducted boys from religious seminaries for forced recruitment. Some accounts raised concerns about further abuse, although these are still being investigated.

The growing trend has caused alarm among local communities and health officials, with calls for stronger protection of aid workers and more decisive action to restore law and order.