A wave of grief and anger has swept through the medical community in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa following the targeted killing of Dr. Mehwish Hasnain, a senior lady doctor at the District Headquarters (DHQ) Hospital Kohat.
The incident, which occurred on Monday evening, February 23, 2026, has led to a complete shutdown of medical services across the district as doctors demand immediate justice.
The Incident
According to police and eyewitness accounts, the murder appears to be a direct retaliation for Dr. Mehwish performing her professional duties:
- The Altercation: Earlier on Monday, Dr. Mehwish reportedly had an argument with a male attendant at the hospital. She had directed him to the men’s section, as he was attempting to enter a designated women-only check-up area.
- The Ambush: As Dr. Mehwish was returning home in a rickshaw after her shift, she was intercepted on Double Road in the Kohat Development Authority (KDA) area.
- The Attack: Unidentified armed men (suspected to be the disgruntled attendant or his associates) opened fire, killing her on the spot. The attackers fled the scene immediately.
ڈاکٹر مہوش صاحبہ کو صرف اس بات پر سات گولیاں مار کر بے دردی سے قتل کر دیا گیا کہ انہوں نے ایک شخص سے مؤدبانہ انداز میں کہا تھا:
“یہ خواتین کا چیک اَپ ایریا ہے، آپ براہِ کرم باہر مردوں کی انتظار گاہ میں اپنی مریضہ کا انتظار کریں۔ چیک اپ مکمل ہونے کے بعد وہ خود باہر آ جائیں گی۔”… pic.twitter.com/8qYCqZP2zA— Asad Malik (@asadmaliklive) February 23, 2026
Police Investigation & Search Operation
District Police Officer (DPO) Shehbaz Elahi visited the crime scene and the DHQ hospital late Monday night.
- Forensic Evidence: Forensic teams have collected bullet casings and are reviewing CCTV footage from the KDA area and hospital exits.
- Prime Suspect: While no names have been officially released to the public, police sources indicate they have identified a prime suspect based on eyewitness descriptions of the hospital altercation.
- Search Operation: A large-scale search operation was launched in the early hours of Tuesday in the surrounding localities to track down the assailants.
Young Doctors Association (YDA) Strike
The Young Doctors Association (YDA) has reacted with an immediate and total boycott of services:
- Services Halted: All OPDs (Outpatient Departments) and non-emergency wards at DHQ Kohat and other public hospitals in the district are closed as of Tuesday morning.
- Provincial Support: YDA branches in Bannu and Peshawar have announced a “Black Ribbon Day” in solidarity.
- Demands: The association has vowed that services will not resume until the “cowardly killers” are arrested. They have also demanded a permanent security detail for female doctors working in high-pressure wards.
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Safety of Female Medics
This tragedy highlights the increasing risks faced by female healthcare professionals in conservative regions. The “Women-Only” zones are a standard cultural and medical requirement in KP, yet enforcing these rules frequently leads to friction with male attendants, leaving doctors vulnerable once they leave the guarded hospital premises.
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