Pakistan's women's rights movement Aurat March staged a protest outside the Islamabad Press Club on 17 June, demanding justice for Dr Mahnoor Nasir, a female doctor who was attacked with acid at the Sandeman Civil Hospital in Quetta, Balochistan. The demonstration drew human rights activists, political leaders, and representatives of civil society organisations, all condemning the escalating violence against women in Pakistan.

The Quetta Acid Attack

The incident took place on 6 June in the surgical ward of Sandeman Civil Hospital, Quetta, when a lift operator identified as Humayun Shah allegedly threw acid on Dr Mahnoor Nasir, leaving her with severe injuries. She received initial medical treatment at the hospital before being transferred to Karachi, where she is reportedly continuing further treatment. According to reports, the accused was subsequently killed by police — a development that itself drew criticism from protest leaders.

What Protesters Said

Prominent human rights activist and Aurat March leader Farzana Bari voiced alarm over the broader pattern of violence. 'Too many incidents of violence against women are surfacing each day, showing us that this country is becoming like a graveyard for women, and the state and state institutions are completely failing to provide protection to us,' she said, according to digital media platform Voicepk.net.

Bari also criticised the circumstances surrounding the perpetrator's death. 'The police have killed the perpetrator, but I consider this to be unnecessary, as the police's job is to arrest criminals while it is the job of the courts to sentence them,' she said, adding that the 'patriarchal mindset has become so dangerous in Pakistan today that women are not safe in their homes, on the streets, or in their workplaces.'

Alia Amir Ali, representing the Awami Workers Party (AWP) Marxist, linked the attack to systemic inequalities. 'We are here to raise our collective voice against the recent rise of gender-based violence and discrimination. Gender oppression and violence are linked to both class and national oppression. In a society where the tradition of might is right is growing deeper, such rising incidents are a very dangerous sign,' she said.

Human Rights Council Condemns the Attack

The Human Rights Council (HRC) of Pakistan described the incident as 'barbaric and regrettable', stating that a woman engaged in 'serving humanity and saving lives' being targeted with '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 Council characterised the attack as a grave security failure and called on the government and law enforcement agencies to guarantee full protection to medical staff, particularly female doctors at hospitals.

Wider Context

The Quetta attack is part of a documented pattern of gender-based violence in Pakistan, with rights groups consistently flagging the inadequacy of state response mechanisms. Notably, the fact that the attack occurred inside a government hospital — a workplace considered relatively secure — has intensified demands for institutional accountability. The Aurat March movement, which has organised annual protests since 2018, has increasingly become a focal point for mobilising public pressure on Pakistan's legislature and law enforcement to act on gender-based crimes.

With Dr Nasir still undergoing treatment in Karachi, activists say the case will continue to be a rallying point until comprehensive legal and institutional reforms are enacted.