EDITORIAL: The horrific acid attack on a young female doctor at a government hospital in Quetta has once again exposed both the vulnerability of women in Pakistan and the insecurity faced by healthcare professionals.
The victim, who sustained serious injuries and had to be shifted to Karachi for treatment, is the latest target of a crime that continues to haunt this society despite legal reforms and growing public awareness.
The medical fraternity’s decision to protest and demand a thorough investigation is both understandable and necessary.
Particularly disturbing is the fact that the attack occurred within a government hospital — a place meant to provide care, healing and protection. The alleged attacker was reportedly an employee of the same facility. While his motive remains unclear, the suspect’s subsequent death in a police “encounter” may leave important questions unanswered. What is beyond dispute, however, is that acid violence remains a deeply gendered crime, with women constituting the overwhelming majority of victims.
The timing of the Quetta incident has lent added significance to the Supreme Court’s landmark judgment in a Faisalabad acid attack case, declaring acid violence an offence even more heinous than homicide. In a powerful ruling issued on Monday, Justice Muhammad Hashim Khan Kakar observed that acid violence condemns its victims to a “living death”, forcing them to endure physical pain, psychological trauma and social stigma for the rest of their lives. Unlike murder, which ends a life, acid attacks seek to destroy a person’s identity, confidence and future while leaving them alive to suffer the consequences every day. As Justice Kakar noted, the perpetrator’s objective is not merely to kill but to inflict lifelong suffering and degradation.
Equally significant is the Court’s recognition that acid violence is often rooted in gender-based discrimination, misogyny and entrenched patriarchal attitudes. Women are frequently targeted for rejecting marriage proposals, resisting harassment or asserting their autonomy. Acid becomes a weapon of domination and punishment, intended to enforce submission through fear and disfigurement. Although the circumstances of the Quetta attack may differ, it nevertheless underscores the broader climate of violence and intimidation that many women continue to face in both public and private spaces. The judgment therefore serves not only as a legal milestone but also as a reminder of the social attitudes that enable such brutality.
The Supreme Court’s emphasis on regulating corrosive substances also deserves urgent attention. While tougher penalties introduced through legislative reforms have strengthened criminal accountability, the easy availability of acid remains a critical weakness. The Punjab Acid Control Act, 2025, offers an important model through its licensing requirements and restrictions on sales. Similar legislation, backed by rigorous enforcement across all provinces, is essential to preventing such crimes rather than merely punish perpetrators after the fact.
The Quetta tragedy is a stark reminder of the responsibilities confronting both the state and society. Justice for the victim, stronger security measures in hospitals and other workplaces, strict regulation of acid sales, and sustained efforts to challenge misogynistic attitudes must form part of a comprehensive response. Only through such a multidimensional approach can Pakistan hope to eradicate a crime that leaves scars not only on its victims but also on the nation’s collective conscience.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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