The FIA registered a case against two suspects, apprehending the primary suspect in Islamabad’s H-13 sector, where he was reportedly living in hiding. Investigators allege that the suspect, identified as Muhammad Nauman, defrauded Ejaz and her family of approximately 9.3 million Pakistani rupees (roughly $34,000) by securing forged admission letters, scholarship documents, and payment receipts for a master’s program in physics at Harvard University.
According to police and FIA statements, the suspect was not a registered visa agent but misrepresented his identity and professional status to gain the family’s trust. He allegedly claimed to work as an accountant at the Supreme Court of Pakistan and later made conflicting claims about his employment. The FIA stated that the suspect also facilitated a separate payment of 550,000 rupees, purportedly for securing employment for Ejaz’s brother.
Laiba Ejaz, a gold medalist in physics from the International Islamic University Islamabad (IIUI), had intended to pursue her scientific career in the United States. Her family, who are residents of G-10, stated that her father, a milk vendor, sold a plot of land and deposited his wife’s jewelry into a bank to finance the application. Approximately 2.9 million rupees of the total sum was transferred through Ejaz’s bank account, with the remainder paid in cash.
The family reported that Ejaz became increasingly distressed after questioning the authenticity of the documents. When the forged Harvard admission letter was presented during a visa interview at the US Embassy in Islamabad, it was rejected. Following this discovery, Ejaz’s father contacted the police helpline, stating she was missing and suffering from extreme psychological distress. Her body was subsequently found hanging from a tree near a road in G-10.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif ordered a thorough investigation into the incident, describing the death as “extremely tragic.” He directed the Inspector General of Islamabad Police and the Chief Commissioner to ensure the accused were arrested and awarded “exemplary punishment” in accordance with the law. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry visited the bereaved family following the directive.
Police have registered cases under Sections 322 and 34 of the Pakistan Penal Code. Investigators have reportedly found evidence on the suspect’s mobile phone linking him to other instances of online fraud and the blackmail of women. The suspect had previously worked for the Anti-Corruption Establishment in Quetta before being suspended, and had also been employed by a company in Islamabad. The FIA is continuing to examine the payments and claims made by the accused, with further legal action expected as the investigation progresses.
The next procedural step involves the formal indictment of the remaining suspect and the submission of a charge sheet to the court. The case remains under active investigation by the FIA Islamabad Zone, which is conducting raids at various locations to trace any additional accomplices involved in the alleged fraud network.
The incident has sparked national outcry over the regulation of overseas education consultants in Pakistan. While the legal proceedings focus on the criminal charges of fraud, the case highlights broader concerns regarding the lack of oversight in the industry and the psychological impact of financial deception on students and their families.
