A 22-year-old gold medallist from the International Islamic University Islamabad was found dead in the federal capital, prompting the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to take notice amid allegations of fraud related to her admission to a US university. The student, Laiba Ejaz, was discovered hanging from a tree within Ramna police station’s jurisdiction on Friday.
FIA inquiry into alleged admission fraud
FIA Director Shehzad Bukhari has initiated an investigation and contacted Laiba’s family. The agency has also sought information from her maternal uncle, Rana Amjad, according to sources. Laiba’s family claims she was defrauded by a consultant who promised to secure her admission abroad in exchange for Rs7 million.
Her father, Muhammad Ejaz, reportedly raised Rs2.1 million by selling a plot of land and supported his children’s education by selling milk on a motorcycle. Laiba’s mother also pledged her jewellery at a bank to arrange the remaining funds. However, the family alleges that the admission documents provided were fake. Laiba had messaged her maternal uncle asking him not to inform her father about the alleged fraud, fearing it would devastate him.
The allegations against the consultant and the authenticity of the admission documents have not been independently verified. Police are investigating the circumstances of Laiba’s death, with initial reports suggesting suicide, though no final conclusion has been reached.
Similar case of woman found dead in Rawalpindi
This case follows the death of 45-year-old Hina Javed, who was found dead in her Rawalpindi apartment bathroom about two months ago. Police reported signs of torture and strangulation, with her body partially hanging from a shower rod.
Hina’s brother filed a first information report accusing her husband, father-in-law, and domestic worker of murder. The FIR was registered under Sections 302 and 34 of the Pakistan Penal Code. Postmortem findings included a strangulation mark, an injury below her lip, and bleeding. Samples were sent to the Punjab Forensic Science Agency for further analysis.
