Laiba Ijaz suicide case: Suspect arrested, alleged online fraud, blackmail under investigation

ISLAMABAD: Police have arrested a man suspected of defrauding International Islamic University Islamabad (IIUI) gold medallist Laiba Ijaz over fake US university admission documents, sources said. Laiba reportedly died by suicide after discovering the alleged scam, and the suspect was detained in Islamabad’s H-13 sector.

The suspect had rented a room in the area and was living in hiding, according to the sources.

They said investigators had also found evidence on his mobile phone of alleged online fraud and the blackmailing of women.

The suspect had previously worked in the Anti-Corruption Establishment in Quetta but was suspended, sources said. He had also worked for a company in Islamabad.

Laiba’s body was reportedly found hanging by the roadside in Islamabad’s G-10 sector, within the jurisdiction of Ramna police station.

According to police, she was distressed after discovering that the documents provided by an agent for admission to a US university were fraudulent.

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

The family said an immigration consultant had demanded Rs7 million to secure her admission to a US university. Laiba’s father, who lived with his family in a rented flat and sold milk on a motorcycle, sold his plot and paid Rs2.1 million in cash to the agent, they added.

The family said Laiba’s mother’s jewellery was also deposited with a bank to arrange the remaining amount.

When Laiba had the admission documents checked, she discovered that they were fake, according to her family.

She sent a final message to her maternal uncle, saying: “Do not tell my father about the fraud committed against me. He will die.”

Police had said they were investigating the case from different angles and were awaiting Laiba’s post-mortem report to establish the cause of death.

PM Shehbaz takes notice

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has taken notice of the alleged suicide of Laiba, describing the incident as extremely tragic, the PM’s Office said.

The premier directed the Islamabad Inspector General of police and Chief Commissioner to immediately arrest the suspect accused of defrauding the student.

He said the suspect would be given exemplary punishment in accordance with the law.

Interior ministry orders FIA action

Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry said the interior ministry took notice of the incident and directed the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to take immediate action.

He said the student was defrauded and authorities ordered action against those responsible.

The FIA director general was working on the case, while the FIA director had also met the victim’s parents, he added. The minister said those involved in the incident would be brought to justice.

FIA begins probe

The probe agency has launched an initial inquiry into the alleged suicide of Laiba, FIA Director Shehzad Nadeem Bukhari said.

Describing the matter as serious, Bukhari said a case would be registered after the inquiry.

He said the suspect allegedly defrauded Laiba of Rs7.2 million on the pretext of securing her admission to a university abroad and also took Rs500,000 from her brother on the promise of arranging a job.

According to the FIA director, the suspect would pose as an employee of the Supreme Court or an officer of a government institution.

Bukhari said Laiba had planned to surprise her family on October 12 with news of her admission to Harvard University. However, two days earlier, she had the university registration certificate checked and discovered that it was fake, he added.

The FIA director also confirmed that Laiba had sent her final message to her maternal uncle.