Justice for Dr Mahnoor

THE targeted attack on a doctor in Quetta demands capital punishment for perpetrators, expansion of burn care infrastructure, and a nationwide awareness campaign — without delay. On 5 June 2026, Dr Mahnoor Nasir — a dedicated physician serving the people of Quetta — was targeted in a cowardly act of violence that has shaken the conscience of the nation. An assailant hurled acid at her, inflicting severe burns across 13 per cent of her body, including her face, abdomen, thighs, and right hand. She is currently receiving treatment at the Aga Khan University Hospital in Karachi. As she endures the agony of recovery far from home, Pakistan must ask itself one hard question: how long will we allow this barbarism to continue unpunished? Acid attacks are not crimes of passion — they are premeditated acts of terror, designed to destroy lives while leaving the victim breathing. They are instruments of control, intimidation, and punishment, overwhelmingly directed at women who dare to rise above the expectations of their oppressors. That the victim is a doctor — a woman who devoted her life to healing others — makes this crime especially sinister. It is an attack not merely on one individual, but on the very idea that educated, professional women have a right to exist and serve with dignity in Pakistani society. When we allow such crimes without the severest consequence, we are complicit in the next attack. The demand for capital punishment: We call upon the Federal Government and the Provincial Governments of all four provinces to urgently table a bill in the National Assembly and respective provincial assemblies proposing capital punishment for all those convicted of committing, financing, or ordering acid attacks. Pakistan’s Acid Control and Acid Crime Prevention Act of 2011 was a legislative step forward, but fifteen years of evidence confirm it has failed as a deterrent. Sentences of life imprisonment have not stopped perpetrators — and the grievous injuries of Dr. Mahno