Pakistan aid groups demand even more protection

Aid groups yesterday demanded greater protection in Pakistan amid concerns of a new spike in violence after seven charity workers were shot dead and their organisation suspended operations.

It is difficult to understand what motivates people to carry out such terrible acts against people who are helping their own people and especially children

The six women – five of them teachers and one a health visitor – and a male health technician were ambushed by gunmen on motorbikes on Tuesday as they were returning from a community centre in northwestern district Swabi.

They were buried yesterday. A four-year-old boy was spared when the gunmen removed him from the same vehicle before spraying it with gunfire, police said.

The attack – which has not been claimed – adds to fears that charity workers are increasingly vulnerable, particularly in the northwest which is badly affected by Taliban and Al-Qaeda-linked violence.

The charity, Support With Working Solution, has temporarily suspended its operations, police said.

“The NGO has suspended its activities for three days to mourn the deaths. They will decide after three days whether to start work again or not,” said Abdul Rashid Khan, the police chief of Swabi.

The organisation runs dozens of health and education projects, including polio vaccinations.