YDA continue protest over acid attack, announce conference and long march

QUETTA: The Young Doctors Association (YDA) continued its protest for a 23rd consecutive day on Monday against the acid attack on Dr Mahnoor Nasir at Civil Hospital Quetta, maintaining a boycott of outpatient departments (OPDs) and general duties at government hospitals across Balochistan.

The strike has disrupted healthcare services, leaving patients facing significant difficulties.

In a statement, the YDA described the acid attack on Dr Mahnoor as “an attack on Balochistan’s entire healthcare system”, alleging that doctors and other medical staff in public hospitals were working in an atmosphere of insecurity.

The association accused the Balochistan government of using all available resources to protect a “controversial official” instead of ensuring justice. It also claimed that more than 30 doctors had been suspended for demanding a transparent investigation into the attack and the identification of those responsible.

The YDA announced that it would hold a Grand Doctors Conference, bringing together doctors from across the province, adding that the conference would announce a long march from Quetta to Islamabad.

The association also announced a protest rally from Civil Hospital Quetta on June 30. Among its key demands, the YDA called for the removal of the provincial health secretary and the medical superintendent of Civil Hospital Quetta, the formation of a judicial commission to investigate the acid attack on Dr Mahnoor, and concrete measures to ensure the safety and security of doctors and medical staff in hospitals across the province.

June 7 acid attack

The protests began after postgraduate trainee Dr Mahnoor Nasir sustained severe burns in an alleged acid attack inside the surgical ward of Civil Hospital Quetta on June 7. According to doctors, she suffered burns to around 35 per cent of her body and was initially treated at a private hospital before being airlifted to Karachi on the directions of Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti for specialised medical care.

The attack sparked widespread outrage among the medical community, with the Young Doctors Association (YDA) alleging that the assailant was a lift operator employed privately at the hospital and describing the incident as an attempted murder. The association claimed the attack exposed serious security lapses in public hospitals and demanded a judicial commission to investigate the incident, along with the removal of senior health officials and improved security for doctors.

The YDA subsequently launched a boycott of all non-emergency medical services, disrupting healthcare across the province.

Police later said the suspected attacker was killed in an exchange of fire with law enforcement after the incident, while investigations continued from multiple angles, including an examination of CCTV footage to determine whether others were involved. The provincial government said it would strengthen hospital security and pledged to bring those responsible for the attack to justice.