Sir: It is terribly sad to hear that after the brutal killing of Jalal Khan, a polio supervisor, polio workers in Khyber Agency have announced not to partake in the polio eradication campaign, which was to start in January 2014. This has threatened the lives of millions of children. Despite the tall claims of the provincial and federal governments, no one seems successful in bridling the widespread extremism and militancy in Pakistan. The half-hearted approach of our leaders has further emboldened the terrorists and militants. Does anybody know who will undertake the responsibility for those innocents whose lives are at stake because of the polio virus? It is high time for the whole nation to rise up and give a united response to the militants and extremists. The ulema’s (clerics’) role can be crucial here. Both the federal and the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa governments should consider it their joint responsibility to ensure the safety of the lives of polio workers. Polio eradication should be a common cause for us all. RAFIA MUSHTAQ KHAN Via e-mail