A qualified female doctor was seriously injured when an assailant threw acid on her while she was on duty at the surgical ward of Sandeman Civil Hospital, the largest public health facility in Balochistan. The suspect fled the scene but was later killed in an exchange of gunfire with police, authorities said.
Police say the attack happened while the doctor was on duty at the province’s largest public health facility. The suspect threw acid at the doctor and fled.
The injured doctor was identified as Dr Mahnoor, a postgraduate intern. She received initial medical treatment before being taken to a private hospital, where doctors said about 35 percent of her face and body had burns.
Read: Suspected acid attacker killed
Police said CCTV footage of the incident had surfaced, showing the alleged attacker fleeing after carrying out the assault.
Following the attack, law enforcement launched search and intelligence operations across the city to track down the suspect.
According to police, the alleged suspect was then killed during an exchange of fire with law enforcement near the Nushki bus stop.
Authorities said an attempt was made to arrest the suspect, but he allegedly resisted, leading to the encounter.
Meanwhile, Balochistan Chief Minister Sardar Sarfaraz Bugti took notice of the incident and sought a detailed report from the relevant authorities.
According to spokesperson and advisor to the Chief Minister Shahid Rind, Dr Mahnoor was taken to Karachi by a special air ambulance to ensure access to advanced medical treatment.
“Arrangements were made to provide the injured doctor with the best available medical facilities, and she was shifted to Karachi for further treatment,” he said.
The incident sparked a strong backlash from the Young Doctors Association (YDA), which called the attack a serious security breach.
The association claimed that the suspect worked as a private elevator operator at the hospital and that the attack was carried out with the intention of killing the doctor.
YDA leaders demanded the immediate transfer of the Health Secretary and the Medical Director of the Civil Hospital, calling for a transparent judicial inquiry into the incident.
The association criticized the government for what it called inadequate safety measures at public hospitals and announced a strike in response to the incident.
“This attack reflects a complete failure of security arrangements in hospitals,” the association said, urging authorities to determine responsibility and ensure accountability.
YDA representatives said repeated concerns about the protection of medical staff had not been addressed and demanded stricter security measures to prevent similar incidents from happening in the future.
The YDA warned that if its demands were not met, doctors in Balochistan would suspend services in government hospitals except emergency care.
“Medical services in public hospitals in the province will be interrupted, with the exception of emergency services, if concrete measures are not taken,” the association said.
The acid attack has reignited concerns over the workplace safety of medical professionals in Balochistan, with doctors calling for immediate action to ensure protection and justice.
