Karachi: A young female doctor who was allegedly attacked with acid inside a government hospital in Quetta and is now undergoing treatment at Aga Khan University Hospital in Karachi had reportedly rejected repeated attempts by the attacker to pursue a relationship with her, a decision that colleagues and investigators believe enraged him and ultimately led to the assault.
As per preliminary investigation, her colleagues claimed that she had reportedly rejected repeated attempts by the suspect to pursue a relationship with her. They said the rejection allegedly enraged the attacker, leading to the assault that left the doctor with severe burns.
The attack on Dr Mahnoor Nasir, a postgraduate trainee in general surgery at Sandeman Provincial Hospital Quetta, has shocked the medical community and renewed concerns over the safety of healthcare workers, particularly female doctors, who continue to face harassment, intimidation and violence while performing their duties.
The incident has also highlighted another critical healthcare gap in Balochistan: the absence of a specialised burns treatment facility in the province, forcing even severely injured healthcare professionals to be transported to Karachi for advanced care.
Health professionals note that while government intervention enabled Dr Mahnoor’s transfer by air ambulance, many ordinary burn victims do not have access to such facilities and often struggle to obtain timely specialised treatment.
Officials at Aga Khan University Hospital said Dr Mahnoor was brought to Karachi by air ambulance and remains in stable condition.
“Dr Mahnoor Nasir is stable and she herself provided her medical history to doctors in the Emergency Room after arriving at Aga Khan University Hospital,” officials familiar with her treatment told vitalsnews.com.
According to colleagues and law enforcement officials, the suspect, Humayun Shah, a contractual lift operator at Sandeman Provincial Hospital and a resident of Noshki district, had allegedly been trying to establish a personal relationship with the doctor for some time. Colleagues said Dr Mahnoor repeatedly rejected his advances.
Investigators believe the rejection may have triggered the attack, although the exact motive remains part of the official inquiry.
Authorities said the suspect allegedly threw acid on the doctor’s face inside the hospital premises before fleeing.
The incident sparked outrage among healthcare workers across the country, many of whom described it as yet another reminder of the dangers faced by female doctors in Pakistan’s healthcare facilities.
Police and other law enforcement agencies launched a district-wide manhunt for the suspect and later tracked him near a bus stop in Noshki.
According to police officials, the accused was asked to surrender but allegedly opened fire on the police party. Officers returned fire, killing him at the scene.
Authorities said the suspect had claimed that he attacked the doctor because she had refused to reciprocate his attempts to establish a relationship with her. Police recovered a pistol, live ammunition and spent bullet casings from the scene, officials said.
Dr Mahnoor is the daughter of Dr Habibullah Nasir from Duki district of Balochistan. Her colleagues described her as a dedicated young surgeon focused on completing her postgraduate training.
Following directives from Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti, the Balochistan government arranged an air ambulance to transfer the injured doctor to Karachi and announced that all treatment expenses would be borne by the provincial government.
Officials said the patient’s condition is being monitored closely and the government has assured the family of full support during her treatment and rehabilitation.
The attack comes only months after another shocking incident involving a female physician. In Kohat, Dr Mehwish was shot dead while on duty after a dispute involving relatives of a patient, triggering nationwide protests by doctors and calls for stronger protection of healthcare workers.
Medical associations have repeatedly warned that violence against doctors, workplace harassment, intimidation, threats and insecurity are contributing to declining morale within the profession and discouraging many young people, particularly women, from pursuing careers in medicine.
Healthcare professionals argue that female doctors working in hospitals often face additional vulnerabilities and require stronger institutional safeguards, effective complaint mechanisms and enhanced security arrangements.
Doctors’ organisations have called for zero tolerance for violence against healthcare workers and urged authorities to ensure that hospitals remain safe workplaces for all medical staff.
As Dr Mahnoor continues her treatment in Karachi, the attack has become a stark reminder of two persistent challenges facing Pakistan’s healthcare system: the growing insecurity of healthcare workers and the lack of specialised medical facilities in underserved provinces such as Balochistan.
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