A police official deputed for the security of a polio vaccination team was fired upon by unknown assailants in Nowshera on Friday.

The incident occurred in Akora Khattak, while the policeman was returning home after the duty.

The official was injured in the incident and has been shifted to a hospital for treatment.

The incident comes days after a police official guarding a polio team was killed by firing in Sakhipul, Jamrud Tehsil in Khyber.

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government is running a polio vaccination campaign from February 3-7 across the province with an aim to reach 6.5 children under the age of five.

Pakistan and Afghanistan are the only countries in the world where the polio virus has still not been eradicated. The spread is attributed to resistance to vaccination which is based on multiple factors including religious propaganda as well as security threats.

Friday’s attack comes in the midst of a renewed emphasis by the Tehreek-e-Taliban on attacks against security officials in KP. In addition to officials on duty, policemen have been attacked outside of duty hours and even inside their homes.