Doctors in Balochistan are set to take to the streets on 12 June after the Young Doctors Association (YDA) announced a protest rally and OPD boycott across all government hospitals in the province, demanding accountability for the acid attack on Dr Mah Noor Naseer and urgent security reforms. The announcement was made at a press conference outside Civil Sandeman Hospital, Quetta, by YDA President Dr Hai Baloch.

What the YDA Has Demanded

Dr Hai Baloch criticised the Pakistani government for what he described as a lack of seriousness toward the medical community's concerns, saying the government's 'inappropriate behaviour' had left doctors with no alternative but to protest. He called for the formation of a judicial commission to investigate the incident at Civil Hospital Quetta and demanded immediate steps to strengthen security for doctors and hospital premises.

The rally is scheduled to march from Sheikh Zayed Hospital to the Quetta Press Club on 12 June. The YDA also announced a boycott of outpatient departments (OPDs) and other services across all government hospitals in Balochistan, though emergency units, trauma centres, and gynaecology wards will continue to function.

The Acid Attack That Triggered the Crisis

The protests stem from a June 6 acid attack on Dr Mah Noor Naseer, a female doctor who was targeted while on duty at Sandeman Civil Hospital in Quetta. The incident drew swift and sharp condemnation from the Human Rights Council (HRC) of Pakistan, which described it as a 'barbaric and regrettable' assault and a 'grave security failure.'

'A woman associated with such a sacred profession, engaged in serving humanity and saving lives, to be targeted with such brutal violence right at her workplace is not only a slap in the face to the medical community but also to the entire society and humanity,' the HRC said in a statement.

Rights Body Calls for Anti-Terrorism Prosecution

The Human Rights Council of Pakistan urged the Balochistan government, the Health Department, and police authorities to arrest those responsible without delay and prosecute them under anti-terrorism clauses, seeking what it called 'the harshest exemplary punishment' under the law. The Council also demanded that Dr Mah Noor Naseer receive the best available medical treatment at government expense.

Notably, Dr Hai Baloch framed the attack in cultural as well as professional terms, stating: 'The attack on Dr Mah Noor Naseer is an assault on the values of our tribal society.' This framing signals that the outrage extends beyond the medical fraternity into broader community sentiment in Balochistan.

What Happens Next

With the OPD boycott set to begin on 12 June, patients at government hospitals across Balochistan could face significant disruption to routine healthcare services. The YDA's decision to maintain emergency and gynaecology services suggests a calibrated escalation, leaving room for negotiation while maximising pressure on authorities. Whether the provincial government moves to address the demands before the rally will determine how far the standoff escalates.