Federal investigators in Islamabad registered a case against two suspects following the death of International Islamic University student Laiba Ijaz, who was allegedly defrauded of millions of rupees in a fake overseas admission scheme.
Federal Investigation Agency Files FIR Over Rs9.3 Million Fraud
The Federal Investigation Agency’s Anti-Human Trafficking Circle in Islamabad registered a case against Muhammad Nauman and Fatima Sarwar on October 10, 2026, after an inquiry into the financial deception directed at 22-year-old Laiba Ijaz, a gold medalist physics graduate from the International Islamic University Islamabad.
Investigators state that the suspects collected Rs9.3 million from the victim’s maternal uncle, Amjad-ur-Rehman, with Rs2.9 million moving through banking transactions directly from Laiba’s personal account and the rest delivered in cash.
Police later detained Muhammad Nauman in Islamabad’s H-13 sector after the suspects allegedly generated fake scholarship award letters, university admission offer letters, and fee payment receipts to maintain the ruse.
The Federal Investigation Agency’s Anti-Human Trafficking Circle registered case FIR-AHTC-ICT-977/26 on October 10, 2026, following the completion of inquiry No. RE-837/2026 under Sections 419 for cheating, 420 for cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property, and 109 for abetment under the Pakistan Penal Code, read with Sections 18 and 22 of the Emigration Ordinance, 1979.
Suspect Posed as Supreme Court Employee with Forged Harvard Letter
The Federal Investigation Agency clarified that the incident involved a targeted scam rather than standard visa consultancy fraud as the primary suspect allegedly posed as a Supreme Court employee and presented a forged admission letter from Harvard University.
“This is not a visa fraud actually, it was wrong admission papers. Contact has been established with uncle of the deceased girl Laiba.”
DG FIA, via Minute Mirror
Laiba discovered the forgery two days prior when she had the registration certificate independently verified, and embassy staff subsequently rejected the paperwork during her visa interview at the US Embassy in Islamabad, according to FIA Director Shehzad Nadeem Bukhari.
An accomplice woman operated alongside him, pretending to be his source residing in the United States, investigators also stated.
Prime Minister Orders Arrests After Consultant Demanded More Money
Relatives shared that financing the supposed education abroad required immense personal sacrifice while the consultant demanded an extra Rs500,000 after promising to secure a government job for Laiba’s brother.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif intervened in the case by directing the Islamabad inspector general of police and chief commissioner to execute immediate arrests, while Chief Commissioner Islamabad, the Deputy Inspector General, the Senior Superintendent of Police Operations, and other relevant officials were also present on various occasions during the official response.
Interior Minister Visits Family as Forensic Reports Await
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry visited the bereaved family to offer condolences, with Naqvi describing the investigation as a test case and noting that the agency’s existing facilities were inadequate.
“External examination shows ligature mark consistent with hanging. No apparent marks of torture or struggle. Final cause of death reserved till histopathology and chemical examiner report. Time of death 2-4 hours before recovery.”
MLO PIMS, via Minute Mirror
Laiba’s body was discovered on Friday hanging from a tree near G-10 Sunday Market in Islamabad, falling within the official jurisdiction of the Ramna Police Station.
Investigators have sent viscera samples to the Punjab Forensic Science Agency in Lahore while examining mobile phones and crime scene material.