QUETTA: A female doctor at Quetta’s Civil Hospital was seriously injured on Saturday when a hospital employee allegedly threw acid on her, police said, adding that the suspect was killed in an encounter after law enforcement personnel tracked him down.

A senior official at Civil Hospital told Dawn that the doctor, Dr Mahnoor Nasir, suffered severe burn injuries to her face, chest, legs and other parts of her body.

He added that she was shifted to a private hospital immediately after receiving initial treatment at Civil Hospital and was later transferred to Karachi via air ambulance.

Dr Nasir is a postgraduate doctor serving in the hospital’s surgery ward.

The accused targeted her while she was on duty. The suspect belon­ged to Duki district in Balochistan.

Hospital sources said that around 70 per cent of her body was affected in the incident.

The suspect escaped from the hospital after throwing acid on the doctor. However, police said he was killed in an encounter after law enforcement personnel traced him to an area from where he was attempting to flee by bus.

They added that they asked the suspect to surrender, but he instead opened fire on the police party. The police retaliated and, in the ensuing exchange of fire, the suspect was killed.

Police recovered a pistol, four live rounds and two spent shell casings from the scene. Officials said investigations into all aspects of the case were underway.

Home Minister Ziaullah Langove said that law enforcement agencies acted promptly following the attack.

‘Inadequate security’

The Young Doctors Association (YDA) said that the attack occurred between noon and 12:30pm within the hospital premises.

It added that the suspect was a hospital employee responsible for operating its lift.

“The suspect knocked on the doctor’s room door and threw acid on her when she came out of the room,” it added.

The YDA blamed “inadequate security arrangements” and “administrative negligence” for the incident.

Following the attack, doctors and paramedical staff launched protests and suspended routine medical services, keeping only emergency facilities operational.

The YDA demanded the removal of the health secretary, as well as the medical superintendent and the hospital’s security in-charge, warning of stronger protest measures if action was not taken.

The YDA has announced a peaceful protest rally from Civil Hospital to the Quetta Press Club on Sunday (today) to condemn the attack and demand stronger security measures for healthcare workers.

Published in Dawn, June 7th, 2026