Balochistan to send Quetta acid attack victim to US for specialised treatment

QUETTA: The Balochistan government has decided to send Dr Mahnoor Nasir, the doctor injured in an acid attack at a Quetta hospital, to the United States for specialised treatment, according to a provincial official.

Shahid Rind, an assistant to the Balochistan chief minister, said on Friday that Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti had approved treatment abroad for Dr Mahnoor and that the provincial government had started the required process. He said the Chief Minister Secretariat had formally issued a letter to the relevant authorities in this connection.

Rind said Dr Mahnoor would continue receiving treatment at a private hospital in Karachi for another week before arrangements for her transfer to the US are completed. He added that the provincial government was using all available resources to ensure that she receives the best possible medical care.

Treatment in Karachi and reported injuries

Dr Mahnoor is currently under treatment at a private hospital in Karachi after being shifted there earlier this month following the acid attack at Quetta’s Civil Hospital.

Hours after the incident, police said the suspect involved in the attack was killed in an encounter.

After she was moved to the Karachi hospital, sources said reconstructive surgeons and eye specialists had completed their assessment of her condition. She suffered burn injuries to her face, abdomen, legs and right hand.

The same sources said burns affected 13% of her body. They added that although her eyes were impacted by the acid, her eyesight remained intact.

Chief minister announces civil award

As treatment continued, Chief Minister Bugti also announced a civil award for a man who rushed to help Dr Mahnoor during the attack.

In a post on X on July 7, the chief minister shared a picture of hospital staff member Abdul Razzaq Tarakai and praised his conduct during the incident.

Bugti described Tarakai as a "precious asset to society" for rushing to the female doctor’s aid during the attack, and said that "a civil award will be conferred upon Abdul Razzaq Tarakai" in recognition of what he called extraordinary courage, humanity and dedication to duty.