June 8, 2026
By Dauran Baloch
QUETTA
The acid attack on Dr Mahnoor Nasir, a young female postgraduate doctor inside Quetta’s Sandeman Provincial Hospital has intensified concerns over the safety of women working in Balochistan’s public health institutions, exposing deep vulnerabilities within the healthcare system in particular, and raising urgent questions about institutional protection mechanisms.
The attacker who had thrown acid on the young doctor was later killed in an alleged encounter, but the case has sparked strong reactions from the medical fraternity, particularly female doctors who say the incident reflects a broader pattern of insecurity faced by women in healthcare across the province.
Representatives of the Young Doctors Association (YDA) questioned the circumstances surrounding the encounter and demanded a transparent investigation into both the attack and the subsequent police action.
Female doctors in the capital city of the province held protests, arguing that the attack represents not only violence against an individual but also the increasing exposure of female health workers to harassment, intimidation and physical harm in workplaces that lack adequate security.
Dr Yasir Achakzai, Vice Chairman of the Young Doctors Association, said that women doctors in Balochistan are working under constant threat and without sufficient institutional safeguards. “Repeated incidents targeting medical staff have not resulted in meaningful reforms, and women health workers are left particularly vulnerable,” he said.
The association has demanded stronger security protocols in hospitals, strict accountability of responsible authorities and the introduction of legal protections specifically designed to safeguard healthcare workers, especially women serving in frontline roles.
Protests have continued across Quetta with medical staff warning that services may remain affected if their concerns are not addressed.
Dr Mahnoor Nasir was initially treated in Quetta before being shifted to Karachi for advanced medical care. She is currently receiving treatment at Aga Khan University Hospital.
Senior police officials maintain that the operation against the suspect was conducted promptly and under close supervision of senior command, with assurances that all aspects of the case will be investigated further.
The incident has reignited a broader debate on the safety of women in public sector workplaces in Balochistan, particularly in hospitals where female doctors, nurses and trainees continue to serve under increasingly uncertain conditions.
As the province grapples with recurring incidents of violence against healthcare workers, the attack on Dr Mahnoor Nasir stands as a stark reminder of the urgent need for systemic reforms to ensure that women can perform their duties without fear or threat to their lives.
Senior lawyer of the Balochistan High Court, Advocate Imran Baloch, told Voicepk that there is no specific law in Balochistan to ensure that perpetrators of acid attacks are brought to justice. However, the laws applicable across the country are also enforced in Balochistan.
He further stated that only two cases of acid attacks have been reported in Balochistan so far, while this is the first reported incident of an acid attack on a female doctor.
“This appears to be a new trend, which may be driven by psychological factors or motives of revenge,” he said. “In any case, there is a dire need for awareness and counseling to provide better guidance to the public on this issue.”
Incident
The incident took place inside Surgical Unit One of the hospital where Dr Mahnoor Nasir, a postgraduate trainee, was targeted with acid during duty hours. The attack has left the medical community in shock and has once again drawn attention to the risks faced by women professionals in high pressure public environments.
Police officials stated that the suspect, a male lift operator employed through a private company at the hospital, fled immediately after the incident. He was later identified through CCTV footage and a national identity card reportedly recovered near the scene.
According to law enforcement, the suspect identified as Humayun Shah was later killed in an encounter on the outskirts of Quetta near Noshki Adda after he allegedly opened fire on a police team during an attempted arrest operation. Authorities described the response as swift and based on available intelligence inputs.