The death of Laiba Ijaz, a promising young graduate of the International Islamic University Islamabad (IIUI), has sparked concern over alleged education fraud after her family claimed that a consultant deceived them with fake US university admission and scholarship documents, shattering her dream of pursuing higher education abroad.
Laiba, who completed her bachelor’s degree in Physics and reportedly earned a gold medal, aspired to continue her studies in the United States. According to her family, the opportunity was presented as a pathway to further education and a brighter future, prompting them to make significant financial sacrifices to support her ambitions.
Her maternal uncle, Rana Amjad, told The Express Tribune that Laiba’s father sold a plot of land and paid Rs2.1 million to the consultant. The family also alleged that Laiba’s mother pledged her jewellery to arrange additional funds after the consultant demanded further payments.
The family said the consultant had promised to secure admission and a scholarship at a US university, reportedly presenting documents purporting to be from Harvard University. However, when the documents were examined, they were allegedly found to be fraudulent.
According to relatives, the family became suspicious after repeated delays in arranging Laiba’s travel. Her uncle subsequently arranged for the documents to be checked through contacts in the United States, where the family discovered the alleged forgery.
The financial loss reportedly extended beyond Laiba’s education plans. Her relatives also alleged that the consultant had taken money after promising to arrange a government job for her brother. The allegations have yet to be independently established through an investigation.
Laiba’s body was found on Friday in a green belt near the old traffic police post close to Sunday Bazaar in Islamabad, within the jurisdiction of Ramna Police Station. Police said investigators were examining the circumstances surrounding her death, while a post-mortem examination and further inquiries were expected to help establish the facts.
The Federal Investigation Agency has also reportedly taken notice of the case and contacted the family to obtain details of the alleged fraud, according to HUM News English.
The case has raised urgent questions about how education consultants are verified, how fraudulent admission and scholarship documents can be detected, and what safeguards exist to protect students and families investing their savings in overseas education.
Who verified the consultant’s credentials? Were the purported university documents authenticated before money was collected? Had any complaints previously been lodged against the individual, and were they investigated? These are among the questions that the relevant authorities must address through a transparent and impartial inquiry.
Any person found responsible for fraud or other offences must be held accountable in accordance with the law. At the same time, investigators must establish the circumstances of Laiba’s death on the basis of evidence rather than speculation.
For Laiba’s family, the tragedy represents the loss of a daughter whose education was supported through substantial personal sacrifice. For other students, the case highlights the risks of relying on unverified intermediaries when pursuing international study opportunities.
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Her family deserves answers, and students deserve stronger protection against fraudulent education agents. A thorough investigation, accountability where wrongdoing is established, and effective safeguards against education fraud are essential to ensure that other families do not face similar exploitation.
