baldrick, you say they should issue the NOC for free, but there's nothing that would force them to, they can just send her back home.

They are trying to recover the costs of bringing you here.

Employer 1 could easily not issue an NOC (It's their right according to the law of the land), it doesn't benefit them in any way, cost recovery is a valid business decision.

Maybe you could negotiate with your new employer to contact the old one and pay those costs:

Employer 1 spent x QR to get you here and issue a visa.
Employer 2 wants you.
If employer 2 got you from your country, they would have paid the same x QR.