New Delhi. The death of Laiba Ijaz, a 20-year-old Pakistani physics gold medallist who dreamed of studying at Harvard University in the United States and becoming a scientist, has highlighted the devastating consequences of alleged fraud involving overseas education and visa services. Her family has alleged that a consultant cheated them of 9.3 million Pakistani rupees (PKR 93 lakh) by promising to secure her admission, scholarship and US visa. Laiba was reportedly deeply distressed after discovering the alleged fraud. Her body was found at a weekly market in Islamabad’s G-10 sector on October 9. Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding her death alongside the allegations of financial fraud.
Laiba, who hailed from Sargodha in Pakistan’s Punjab province, had completed her undergraduate studies in physics at the International Islamic University Islamabad. She was an academically outstanding student and had received a gold medal. According to her family, she aspired to pursue higher education in the United States and build a career as a scientist. Despite their limited financial resources, her family made enormous sacrifices to help her achieve that ambition.
Father Sold Land, Mother Pawned Jewellery to Fund Her Education
Laiba’s father has been selling milk and yoghurt on the streets of Islamabad since 1994 to support his family. Despite having limited formal education himself, he made his daughters’ education a priority.
To finance Laiba’s plans to study in the United States, he sold a plot of land that he had purchased with the intention of building a family home. Her mother also pawned her jewellery to arrange the money demanded for the alleged overseas education arrangements.
Laiba was the youngest of seven siblings. Her family had a strong commitment to education, and her eldest sister had previously received a scholarship to study in China. She now works as a translator for a major Chinese company in Lahore.
According to relatives, Laiba had also received an opportunity to study in Saudi Arabia on a scholarship but chose to pursue her dream of studying in the United States instead. During this period, the family approached a purported foreign education consultant named Muhammad Nauman, who allegedly promised to arrange her admission to Harvard, a scholarship and a US visa.
PKR 93 Lakh Allegedly Taken Using Fake Documents
According to Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), the suspects allegedly defrauded Laiba’s family of PKR 93 lakh. Of this amount, PKR 29 lakh was transferred through Laiba’s bank account, while the remaining money was allegedly paid in cash.
Her family alleged that Nauman supplied forged university admission letters, scholarship documents and receipts purportedly showing payment of tuition fees. When Laiba appeared for a visa interview at the US Embassy in Islamabad, the documents reportedly could not be verified. This raised suspicions that the family had been cheated.
Relatives further alleged that Nauman claimed to have connections with various institutions, including the Islamabad High Court. He also reportedly claimed that a woman based in the United States could help secure the scholarship.
Laiba’s family contacted Harvard University and made enquiries through their contacts at the US Embassy in Islamabad. According to the relatives, neither institution could verify the documents provided to them.
Laiba’s brother-in-law, Zaid bin Afzal, said the alleged consultant repeatedly postponed her visa interviews. He later reportedly claimed that another interview had been scheduled for October 12 and demanded the remaining PKR 22 lakh before that date.
Laiba Feared the News Would Devastate Her Father
According to her family, Laiba was deeply distressed after discovering the alleged fraud. Before leaving home on October 9, she reportedly asked her maternal uncle, Amjad Ur Rehman, not to tell her father what had happened. She feared that her father, who had sold land to support her educational ambitions, would be devastated by the news.
Later, her brother-in-law, Zaid bin Afzal, found her body at a market in Islamabad’s G-10 sector and alerted the police.
Authorities are investigating her death and the alleged financial fraud. Although the circumstances have been linked to the alleged scam, the complete sequence of events remains subject to investigation.
One Accused Arrested as Prime Minister Orders Action
The FIA has arrested Muhammad Nauman in connection with the case. The agency has registered a criminal case against Nauman and another individual, Fatima Sarwar, on allegations including cheating, dishonestly inducing the delivery of property and abetment, along with provisions of Pakistan’s Emigration Ordinance.
According to the investigating agency, the suspects allegedly deceived the family by preparing fake scholarship award letters, university admission offers and tuition fee payment receipts. The FIA has indicated that the involvement of any other individuals will be determined during the investigation.
Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif took notice of the incident and directed Islamabad’s inspector general of police and chief commissioner to ensure prompt action against those responsible. Describing the death as extremely tragic, he called for exemplary punishment in accordance with the law.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry also visited Laiba’s bereaved family. Naqvi reportedly assured them that he would personally pursue the case and that authorities would seek to recover the money allegedly taken from the family and ensure that those responsible were punished.
Laiba’s family is now seeking justice and the recovery of its money. The father who sold land to finance his daughter’s future and the mother who pawned her jewellery have suffered an enormous financial and personal loss.
The case underscores the importance of independently verifying admission offers, scholarship awards, fee receipts and visa-related claims before making substantial payments to overseas education consultants. It also highlights the risks faced by families who invest their life savings in the hope of securing better educational opportunities for their children.
