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........

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