Student’s suicide case: Police arrest two women, main suspect sent on remand

ISLAMABAD: An Islamabad court on Monday remanded a man accused of defrauding International Islamic University Islamabad graduate Laiba Ijaz in police custody for five days, as investigators widened their probe into the alleged visa and university admission fraud linked to her death.

Judicial Magistrate Zunaira Zafar granted the physical remand of Muhammad Noman after police sought 10 days for further questioning and verification of evidence.

The suspect was produced before the court with his face covered.

Police also arrested two women suspected of involvement in the alleged fraud. The main suspect was detained during a raid in Islamabad’s Sector H-13, while the women were picked up in separate raids.

The women were accused of assisting in the alleged fraud. Their individual roles remain under investigation.

The case concerns the death of 23-year-old Laiba, whose body was found hanging from a tree in the G-10 area of Islamabad on October 9.

Investigators are examining allegations that she had been defrauded of money on the promise of admission to a US university and that documents supplied to her were forged.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif took notice of the incident and directed Islamabad police to arrest those allegedly involved. Police and the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) are conducting separate investigations into the case.

Family alleges Rs9.3 million fraud

According to a first information report (FIR) lodged by Laiba’s father, Muhammad Ijaz, the suspect allegedly introduced himself as an influential person and claimed to hold a senior position in Islamabad before offering to arrange a US study visa and university admission for his daughter.

The complaint states that the family agreed to pay Rs9.3 million for the process. Ijaz alleged that he paid Rs2.1 million in cash in the presence of witnesses, while Laiba transferred a further Rs2.9 million to the suspect’s bank account.

The family later received documents purportedly relating to admission, travel and visa arrangements. These allegedly included university offer letters, scholarship documents, fee receipts and a transaction receipt showing a deposit of $20,000 for the preparation of a bank statement.

According to the FIR, the family had the documents checked and found them to be fake. When Ijaz confronted the suspect, he allegedly stopped answering his calls. A woman who had been in contact with Laiba allegedly continued to demand additional money.

The complaint alleges that the financial loss and resulting distress contributed to Laiba’s death. These allegations have not been established in court, and investigators are still examining the evidence.

The amounts cited in initial reports vary. While the FIR refers to an agreed sum of Rs9.3 million, the specific payments detailed in the complaint total Rs5 million. Further reporting has described the family’s alleged overall loss differently, and the precise amount paid remains to be established through the investigation.

Family says father sold plot to fund studies

Laiba, a native of Sargodha, had completed a bachelor’s degree in physics at the International Islamic University Islamabad and was a scholarship recipient, according to reports. Her family said she hoped to pursue further education in the United States.

In an interview with Independent Urdu, her father said the suspect had initially sought money for university admission and later demanded additional sums for banking and travel documentation.

The family said it had relied on the suspect’s claims about his official position and ability to arrange admission abroad.

Relatives told BBC Urdu that Laiba had been distressed after discovering that the documents were allegedly fraudulent. Her brother-in-law said she had been academically accomplished and had also received an offer from her university for further study in Saudi Arabia.

The family said Ijaz had spent his savings and sold a plot intended for the construction of a house to help finance his daughter’s plans for further education.

According to the brother-in-law, Laiba had contacted him before her death and expressed concern about the alleged fraud and the effect its disclosure could have on her father.

Police and FIA investigate

The Islamabad police registered a case at the Ramna Police Station under Sections 322 and 34 of the Pakistan Penal Code, relating to “qatl-bis-sabab” and acts carried out with common intention. The FIR was initially sealed before being made public on Monday.

Separately, the FIA registered a case against suspects named in its complaint under provisions relating to cheating, personation and offences under the Emigration Ordinance, 1979.

The agency is investigating the alleged use of false documents to secure money on the promise of overseas admission and travel.

Dawn reported that investigators were also examining whether the suspects were linked to other alleged online fraud and blackmail cases.

Police sources said the group may have targeted other people, although the extent of any wider criminal activity remains under investigation.

Laiba’s body was taken to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences in Islamabad for a post-mortem examination, and forensic evidence was collected.