FIA takes notice after Islamabad university student found dead amid alleged US admission fraud

ISLAMABAD: A 22-year-old gold medallist from the International Islamic University Islamabad was found dead in the federal capital, with the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) taking notice of the case amid allegations that she was defrauded by a consultant who promised to secure her admission to a US university.

FIA Director Shehzad Bukhari has taken notice of the matter, while the agency has contacted the deceased student’s family, sources said.

The FIA has also sought details of the case from Laiba Ejaz’s maternal uncle, Rana Amjad, according to the sources.

Laiba, daughter of Muhammad Ejaz, was found hanging from a tree within the jurisdiction of Ramna police station on Friday. She was a resident of G-10 Markaz, Islamabad.

Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding her death. Initial reports suggested a possible suicide, but investigators have yet to reach a final conclusion.

Family alleges Rs7 million admission fraud

Laiba’s family said she had completed her bachelor’s degree at the International Islamic University Islamabad with a gold medal and wanted to pursue further studies abroad.

According to her relatives, a consultant demanded Rs7 million to secure her admission to a US university.

Her father, who reportedly supported his children’s education by selling milk on a motorcycle, arranged Rs2.1 million in cash after selling a plot of land. The family said her mother also pledged her jewellery at a bank to arrange the remaining amount.

However, the family alleged that when Laiba had the admission documents checked, they turned out to be fake.

Her relatives said Laiba had sent a message to her maternal uncle asking him not to tell her father about the alleged fraud, fearing the news would devastate him.

The allegations concerning the consultant and the admission documents have not been independently verified.

Another woman found dead in Rawalpindi

The case comes about two months after 45-year-old Hina Javed was found dead in the bathroom of her apartment at Askari Apartments in Rawalpindi.

Police said Hina’s body bore signs of torture and had a wire around the neck. It was found partially hanging from a shower rod.

Her brother, Fahad Javed, registered a first information report at Civil Lines police station, alleging that she had been murdered by her husband, Faisal Asghar, her father-in-law and their domestic worker, Zeeshan Arshad.

The FIR was registered under Sections 302 and 34 of the Pakistan Penal Code.

An initial postmortem examination found a strangulation mark around her neck, an injury below her right lip and bleeding. Samples were sent to the Punjab Forensic Science Agency for further examination.