YDA Brings Dr Mahnoor Justice Campaign to Islamabad
YDA demands judicial commission, removal of health officials, and vows to continue protests until its demands are met
ISLAMABAD: The Young Doctors Association (YDA) Balochistan has entered a new phase of its protest movement by bringing its campaign to the federal capital after completing a long march from Quetta. The association announced the establishment of a protest camp outside the National Press Club, where it says demonstrations will continue until its demands are addressed.
According to an official press release issued on Saturday, YDA Balochistan is demanding the immediate removal of the Balochistan Health Secretary and the Medical Superintendent of Civil Hospital Quetta. The association is also calling for the formation of an independent, autonomous judicial commission to investigate the acid attack on Dr. Mah Noor Nasir, alleged administrative failures within the provincial health department, and other related matters.
YDA Balochistan spokesperson Dr. Sana Ullah Baloch said the association has been holding a peaceful constitutional protest for the past 27 days over what it describes as concerns regarding doctors’ safety, accountability and governance within the health sector.
He alleged that instead of addressing the doctors’ demands, the Balochistan government had taken retaliatory measures against protesting doctors. According to the association, more than 30 doctors have been dismissed, 25 have received show-cause notices, while notifications have also been issued to terminate the postgraduate training of five doctors.
Dr. Sana Ullah Baloch said the YDA Balochistan leadership would hold a joint press conference in Islamabad before formally launching the protest camp. He added that the solidarity camp at Civil Hospital Quetta and the boycott of OPD services across Balochistan would continue alongside the Islamabad protest.
The spokesperson said the association’s movement is aimed at securing judicial accountability, reforms in the provincial health sector, improved security for healthcare professionals and a transparent investigation into the attack on Dr. Mah Noor Nasir. He reiterated that the protest would continue until the association’s demands are met.
In a statement issued earlier this week, YDA Pakistan President Dr. Atif Majeed Chaudhry also expressed solidarity with the protesting doctors, describing the attack on Dr. Mah Noor Nasir as a matter of grave concern for doctors across Pakistan, particularly women serving in the healthcare sector.
Dr. Chaudhry appreciated the Balochistan government’s decision to arrange emergency medical treatment for Dr. Mah Noor, including her transfer by air ambulance, but said the incident had exposed broader concerns regarding the safety of healthcare workers.
He urged the Balochistan government to engage in dialogue with the protesting doctors rather than allowing tensions to escalate. He said the doctors were seeking enhanced workplace security, a transparent investigation into the attack on Dr. Mah Noor, accountability for those responsible and meaningful reforms to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Dr. Chaudhry also appealed to the authorities to avoid punitive action against protesting doctors, warning that such measures could further affect the province’s healthcare system. He called on all relevant institutions and stakeholders to facilitate negotiations aimed at reaching a peaceful and lasting resolution.
