Balochistan govt spokesperson says doctor may have scolded suspect before acid attack

QUETTA: Balochistan government spokesperson on interior affairs Babar Khan Yousafzai said on Sunday that the acid attack on Dr Mah Noor at Quetta's Civil Hospital may have been triggered after the doctor allegedly scolded the suspect, even as young doctors continued protests demanding greater security and an independent investigation into the incident.

Speaking to the media, Yousafzai said authorities had not found any evidence suggesting harassment as a motive behind the attack. "It is possible that Dr Mah Noor may have reprimanded Humayun Shah over something, which led to this reaction," he said.

He added that the suspect had allegedly attempted to violate the doctor's dignity and was killed shortly after the incident. According to Yousafzai, the accused, identified as Humayun Shah, was killed in a police operation within half an hour of the attack.

The minister said Dr Mah Noor had been shifted to Karachi for treatment and maintained that no major organ had been affected. He urged doctors to show restraint and avoid disrupting healthcare services through strikes and boycotts.

Young doctors stage protest, demand officials' removal

Meanwhile, the Young Doctors Association organised a protest rally against the acid attack, which began at Civil Hospital Quetta and ended outside the Quetta Press Club.

Participants carried banners and placards and chanted slogans against the hospital administration and the provincial health department. Young doctors and paramedical staff later staged a sit-in outside the press club.

Addressing protesters, YDA President Dr Hayee Baloch demanded the removal of the health secretary and the hospital's medical superintendent, alleging that healthcare workers in government hospitals faced serious security concerns.

He said doctors and paramedical staff lacked adequate protection and accused health authorities of failing to address longstanding issues. Dr Baloch warned that protests would continue until effective security measures were implemented for medical personnel.

Government seeks dialogue as doctors continue boycott threat

Yousafzai said he had been in contact with representatives of the Young Doctors Association since Saturday night and announced that Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti would meet doctors upon returning to Quetta on Tuesday.

Calling for unity, the minister said this was not a time for politics and questioned whether boycotting hospital services would resolve the situation. He warned that patients would suffer if doctors withdrew services.

The government, he said, was willing to accept legitimate demands raised by the medical community. However, he argued that providing security inside hospitals was primarily the responsibility of hospital administrations, while police were tasked with maintaining security outside hospital premises.

The acid attack on Dr Mah Noor has sparked widespread concern among healthcare workers across Balochistan, reigniting debate over workplace security in public hospitals and the protection of medical professionals.

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