Police have arrested a man accused of defrauding Laiba Ijaz, a gold medallist at the International Islamic University Islamabad (IIUI), of Rs9.3 million. The suspect allegedly promised to arrange a US visa and scholarship for her.
The Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Operations confirmed that the suspect, Noman, had been arrested. Police are questioning him in connection with the case.
The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has also registered a case against Noman and his alleged accomplice, Fatima Sarwar.
How did the suspects allegedly defraud the student?
According to the first information report (FIR), the suspects took Rs9.3 million from Laiba Ijaz by promising to arrange a US visa and scholarship.
The FIR states that they used fake scholarship documents and university admission offer letters to deceive the student and her family.
Of the total amount, Rs2.9 million was reportedly transferred through Laiba Ijaz’s bank account. The remaining amount was allegedly paid in cash.
The FIR further states that Ijaz died by suicide following the alleged financial fraud and the psychological distress associated with it. The case is under investigation.
Laiba Ijaz scholarship fraud case
Laiba Ijaz, a gold medallist, reportedly died by suicide after allegedly being cheated in a fake Harvard admission scam.
Her father sold milk on a motorcycle to support his family and pay for his children’s education. He reportedly sold a plot of land and paid Rs2.1 million in cash to an agent. Laiba’s mother also pledged her jewellery at a bank to arrange the remaining money.
According to reports, Laiba later discovered that the admission letter provided by the agent was fake. She was reportedly under severe mental stress after learning about the fraud.
On Friday, Laiba left home and told her mother that she would return shortly. She was later found hanging from a tree near Itwar Bazaar.
Reports also state that Laiba sent a final message to her uncle. She asked him not to tell her father about the fraud because she feared he would not be able to bear the news.
A fake Harvard admission letter shared on social media stated that Laiba had applied for a Master’s degree in Physics for the semester starting in 2026. The letter claimed she had received a 70 per cent scholarship.
It also stated that $7,500, or around Rs2 million, had been paid in May 2026. However, when Laiba checked the letter, she reportedly discovered that it was fake.
