PM Takes Notice of Gold Medallist Laiba Ijaz’s Death
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday took notice of the death of Laiba Ijaz, a gold-medallist graduate of the International Islamic University Islamabad, who was found dead in the federal capital a day earlier.
The prime minister directed the inspector general of Islamabad police and the chief commissioner to immediately arrest the suspect accused of defrauding the student and her family. He described the young student’s death as an extremely regrettable incident.
The case
Laiba, who had completed her bachelor’s degree with a gold medal, had hoped to study at a university in the United States. According to her family, they had lost around Rs7 million to an education consultant who promised to secure her admission and a scholarship, and the documents he provided turned out to be fake.
She was found dead in a green belt near Itwar Bazaar in Islamabad’s Sector G-10 on Friday, after relatives tracked her mobile phone’s location and reached the spot.
Police are treating the death as an apparent suicide, but the exact cause and circumstances remain under investigation. Officials said a post-mortem examination and further inquiries would help establish the facts.
Her funeral prayers were offered on Saturday. Residents of the area described her as an exceptionally talented and studious student.
How the scam worked
The family told investigators the suspect lured Laiba with a forged Harvard scholarship letter and posed as an accounts officer of the Islamabad High Court, also claiming links to a sensitive institution.
He allegedly promised her brother a government job for Rs500,000 more, and communicated with the family through WhatsApp. A woman was allegedly involved in the communications as well.
The family has approached the Federal Investigation Agency with these details, in addition to the police case.
PM’s directive
According to a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office, Shehbaz met the Islamabad IG, Captain (retd) Muhammad Sohail Chaudhry, and the chief commissioner, Lt (retd) Sohail Ashraf, and ordered immediate action against the suspect.
“The accused should be arrested forthwith and awarded exemplary punishment in accordance with the law,” the prime minister said.
FIA also takes notice
The Federal Investigation Agency has also taken notice of the case. FIA Director Shahzad Bukhari contacted the student’s family to obtain details of the alleged fraud, according to her maternal uncle, Rana Amjad.
Naqvi visits the family
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi visited the grieving family along with Talal Chaudhry, vowing that the accused would be arrested and the money recovered.
Naqvi called the case a test case and said the suspect “is not part of the gang involved in the case; he is a swindler,” signalling that investigators see a lone fraudster rather than an organised ring behind the deception.
Frequently asked questions
Who was Laiba Ijaz?
Laiba Ijaz was a gold-medallist graduate of the International Islamic University Islamabad who aspired to study at a university in the United States.
What happened to her?
She was found dead in a green belt near Itwar Bazaar in Islamabad’s Sector G-10 on Friday, October 9, 2026. Police are treating the death as an apparent suicide, though the exact circumstances are under investigation.
What did the prime minister do?
On Saturday, PM Shehbaz Sharif took notice of the case and directed the Islamabad IG and chief commissioner to immediately arrest the consultant accused of defrauding her family, saying the accused would face exemplary punishment under the law.
What was the alleged fraud?
Her family alleges they lost around Rs7 million to an education consultant who promised to secure her admission to a US university on a scholarship. The family says the suspect showed them a forged Harvard scholarship letter, posed as an accounts officer of the Islamabad High Court, and also promised her brother a government job for Rs500,000 more.
Is anyone else investigating?
Yes. The Federal Investigation Agency has also taken notice. FIA Director Shahzad Bukhari contacted the family to gather details about the alleged fraud and the circumstances of her death.
