Pakistan: Killings of polio workers can’t be overlooked

The Supreme Court (SC) on Thursday said that no compromise can be made on the killings of polio workers and asked the provincial governments to improve security arrangements for them.

The court rejected affidavits filed by government of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) government on regularizing Lady Health Workers (LHWs) within 24 hours and payment of salary to them. The court while giving last chance to government of Punjab, KPK, Balochistan and Sindh to file the affidavits afresh has made it clear that contempt of court proceedings will be initiated against the officers concerned if affidavits are not filed. Justice Jawwad S Khawaja said verbal consolation will not work in the court. “We want all the problems facing LHWs be addressed.”