The Women's Parliamentary Caucus (WPC) in Balochistan has decided to expedite legislative efforts aimed at preventing acid attacks and ensuring justice and rehabilitation for victims. This decision follows the critical injury of Dr Mahnoor, who was attacked with acid while on duty in the surgical ward of Quetta's Civil Sandeman Hospital last week. The suspect fled but was later killed in an exchange of fire with police.
Meeting of the Women's Parliamentary Caucus
A meeting chaired by Balochistan Assembly Deputy Speaker and WPC Chairperson Ghazala Gola was held in the Provincial Assembly's Committee Room. The session focused on measures to curb acid violence, strengthen relevant laws, and support affected individuals. Attendees included WPC members Raheela Hamid Khan Durrani, Shahida Rauf, Farah Azeem Shah, Kulsoom Niaz, Salma Kakar, and Shahnaz Umrani; Justice (retd) Kailash Nath Kohli; representatives from the Home and Law departments; officials from UN Women; and Balochistan Assembly Special Secretary Abdul Rehman.
Review of Legal Framework and Statistics
Justice (retd) Kailash Nath Kohli provided a detailed briefing on Pakistan's existing legal framework concerning acid attacks and related crimes. He also updated participants on a proposed provincial law drafted in 2016. Representatives from the Home Department presented official statistics, revealing that seven cases of acid throwing had been registered in Balochistan since 2021, with five cases disposed of in 2022.
Formation of Joint Review Committee
After thorough deliberations, participants unanimously agreed to constitute a joint review committee. The committee will examine the existing draft law and incorporate stronger provisions related to the regulation of acid sales and use, protection and rehabilitation of victims, compensation mechanisms, and effective institutional responses. The meeting's members also recommended that the next consultative session invite representatives from the Departments of Industries, Health, Prosecution, Women Development, Law, senior lawyers, the home department, and the police to offer their input for making the proposed legislation more robust.
Strengthening the Proposed Bill
Participants further decided to revisit the composition of the board to be established under the proposed bill, ensuring representation from the Women's Parliamentary Caucus and other relevant stakeholders. It was also suggested that members of the relevant Standing Committee on Home Affairs be included in future consultations to build broader consensus and improve coordination. The participants emphasised that a comprehensive and strong provincial law was essential to effectively prevent acid attacks, regulate the sale and use of acid and other hazardous chemicals, hold perpetrators accountable, and provide meaningful support and rehabilitation to survivors.
Commitment to Protecting Vulnerable Groups
Concluding the session, Chairperson Ghazala reaffirmed the WPC's commitment to continuing its efforts for the enactment of laws that protect vulnerable segments of society, promote justice, and ensure strong safeguards against all forms of violence in Balochistan.
Details of the Attack on Dr Mahnoor
The injured doctor was a postgraduate trainee. She was provided initial medical treatment and later taken to Karachi through a special air ambulance to ensure access to advanced medical treatment. According to doctors, approximately 35% of her face and body sustained burn injuries. The incident triggered a strong reaction from the Young Doctors Association (YDA), which described the attack as a serious security lapse.
YDA's Response and Demands
The association claimed that the suspect worked as a private lift operator at the hospital and alleged 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 superintendent of Civil Hospital, calling for a transparent judicial inquiry into the incident. The association criticised the government for what it described as inadequate security measures in 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 fix responsibility and ensure accountability.
