Women’s rights activists and social media users in Pakistan are alarmed by the unrestricted availability of corrosive acid in local markets, highlighted after a female doctor was attacked in Balochistan province. Riffat Ayesha, a women’s rights activist, criticized the failure of Pakistan’s legal system to prevent gender-based chemical violence, noting the easy access to acids in informal markets despite legal reforms.
Ayesha expressed dismay over the absence of a state-monitored system to track the purchase of these harmful substances and their intended use, emphasizing the urgent need for stringent buyer verification regulations. The attack on Mahnoor Nasir, who sustained severe injuries from acid thrown by a hospital employee in Quetta, further underscored the risks faced by women due to unregulated chemical sales.
Following the incident, the Young Doctors Association (YDA) President Hai Baloch condemned the government’s lack of response to the medical community’s demands, particularly regarding the safety of healthcare professionals. Baloch called for a judicial inquiry into the attack on Dr. Mahnoor Nasir and demanded enhanced security measures for doctors and hospitals to prevent such incidents in the future.
The Human Rights Council (HRC) of Pakistan strongly denounced the acid attack on the female doctor, labeling it as a reprehensible act that targeted a healthcare worker fulfilling a noble duty. The HRC urged immediate action by authorities to apprehend the perpetrators under anti-terrorism laws and ensure the victim receives comprehensive medical care and protection at government expense.
