Pakistani Physics Gold Medalist Dies After Visa Fraud; FIA Arrests Suspect

Laiba Ijaz, a 24-year-old physics gold medalist from Sargodha who graduated from the International Islamic University Islamabad (IIUI), was found dead on October 9, 2026, hanging from a tree in Islamabad's G-10 sector. Her death followed the discovery that she had been defrauded of approximately 9.3 million rupees (around $34,000) by individuals claiming to arrange her admission to Harvard University and a US visa. Her family alleged that the admission letter, scholarship documents, and fee payment receipts provided by the suspects were all forged.

According to her family's account, Laiba had met a man named Muhammad Nauman who promised to secure her Harvard admission and scholarship. Her father, who sold milk on a motorcycle, sold a plot of land and contributed 2.1 million rupees in cash. Laiba's mother pawned her jewelry to help meet additional financial demands. When Laiba had the documents checked through relatives in the United States, she discovered they were fake. She reportedly sent a final message to her maternal uncle asking him not to inform her father, fearing the news would devastate him. Police found her body two days before she was scheduled to surprise her family with news of her admission.

The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) registered a formal case on October 10, 2026, against two suspects: Muhammad Nauman and Fatima Sarwar. The charges included cheating, dishonestly inducing delivery of property, and abetment under Pakistan Penal Code sections 419, 420, and 109, along with violations of the Immigration Ordinance, 1979. According to FIA findings, 2.9 million rupees was transferred through Laiba's bank account while the remaining amount was paid in cash. Muhammad Nauman was arrested and placed on a stop list. The suspects had allegedly misrepresented their identities and professional status, with Nauman claiming to work as an accountant at Pakistan's Supreme Court.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif took notice of the case on October 9, describing Ijaz's death as "extremely tragic" and directing the Islamabad Inspector General of Police and Chief Commissioner to arrest the suspect and ensure exemplary punishment. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry visited the bereaved family, with Naqvi describing the case as a "test case" for authorities in their broader crackdown on human smuggling and visa fraud. The FIA committed to determining the involvement of any other individuals and bringing all those responsible to justice. Police also registered a separate case under Pakistan Penal Code sections 322 and 34.

Laiba's death has prompted national attention to alleged education consultancy fraud targeting Pakistani students seeking overseas education. Her family noted that she had previously declined a scholarship offer to study in Saudi Arabia because she was determined to pursue higher education in the United States. Her eldest sister had received a scholarship to study in China and now works as a translator for a major Chinese company in Lahore, underscoring the family's commitment to their children's education despite financial constraints.