Family of promising physics graduate says it lost millions to consultant who provided forged Harvard documents.
The body of a 22-year-old gold medalist from the International Islamic University Islamabad (IIUI) was found hanging from a tree in a green belt in the city’s G-10 sector on Friday, police said, in a case that has drawn attention to alleged education and visa fraud targeting aspiring students.
Laiba Ijaz, daughter of Muhammad Ijaz, was discovered near an old traffic police post close to Sunday Bazaar within the jurisdiction of Ramna Police Station. She lived in Flat No. 8 of Gulistan Plaza in G-10 Markaz. Police said the incident initially appeared consistent with suicide, but investigators have not reached a final conclusion. A post-mortem examination and further inquiries are under way to determine the exact circumstances of her death.
Family members and initial police information link the tragedy to an alleged education scam. Relatives said Laiba, who had completed her bachelor’s degree in physics at IIUI with a gold medal, dreamed of pursuing a master’s degree at a US university, specifically Harvard, and becoming a scientist. A consultant, identified in some media reports as Nauman, allegedly promised to secure her admission and a scholarship. The family said they paid between Rs5 million and Rs7 million after selling a plot of land and jewellery to raise the funds.
Forged Harvard Documents and Alleged Fraud Under Investigation:
According to her uncle Amjad, the family received what appeared to be an admission letter from Harvard University, a scholarship letter and other related documents. When the papers were checked through relatives in the United States, they were found to be forged. Amjad said he informed his niece of the fraud, after which she became deeply distressed and asked him not to tell her father, fearing he could not bear the news.
Laiba’s father, who sold milk on a motorcycle to support the family while living in a rented flat, had opposed the plan at first but eventually agreed after discussions. Her brothers had also reportedly been against it. Some accounts state the consultant additionally took money promising a government job for her brother and presented himself in other official-sounding roles.
Police sources said Laiba left home around 2pm on the day of the incident. Her family later traced her mobile location to the area where her body was found. Officers from Ramna Police Station, the homicide unit and senior officials collected evidence at the scene. Investigators are examining the alleged dealings with the consultant, the authenticity of the documents and any possible connection to her death. The claims of fraud and their link to the incident have not been independently verified by authorities at this stage.
Concerns Over Education Fraud:
The case has renewed concerns about the vulnerability of young Pakistanis and their families to education and immigration agents who promise opportunities abroad. For many middle- and lower-income households, sending a child to study overseas represents both a major financial sacrifice and a path to better prospects. When those promises prove false, the emotional and economic toll can be severe.
Laiba’s story underscores the pressures facing high-achieving students from modest backgrounds who seek international education. Her academic success at IIUI had opened the possibility of advanced studies, yet the alleged deception appears to have left her under intense mental strain. Police continue to investigate all angles of the case, including the role of the consultant and the sequence of events leading to her death.
As of Saturday, no arrests related to the alleged fraud had been publicly confirmed, and the official cause of death remained subject to forensic findings. The family has described the loss of a daughter who had worked hard to excel and whose aspirations were cut short.