KARACHI:
The heart-breaking suicide of 20-year-old Laiba Aijaz, a brilliant student and gold medalist of Islamic University, Islamabad, has plunged sensitive souls into mourning. She was badly deceived and exploited at the hands of a fake education consultant and visa agent who promised to get her admitted to Harvard University in the United States. Her family somehow managed the required amount of money by selling a plot of land and jewellery to turn her dream into reality, but unfortunately it was nothing but a hollow promise. This fraud turned into tragedy, reportedly driving her to take her life to escape worldly taunts, mockery, disgrace and insult, and to avoid facing her father. In such a gruesome manner, her dream of building a better future was shattered for good.
Though the main accused has been apprehended – thanks to an aggressive social media campaign led by sensitive souls and sane sections of society – the irreparable loss of an innocent human life can never be compensated. Laiba Aijaz will never be able to return to this world. It is the need of the hour to award exemplary punishment to the individuals or groups allegedly involved, so that such tragic incidents never occur again in any part of the country. The family of the deceased must receive swift justice, and the recovery of the defrauded money must be guaranteed.
It is the first and foremost responsibility of the state to protect its people generally, and vulnerable women in particular, from such wolves and barbarians; otherwise, poor women of our country will continue to suffer in the long run.
Azhar Azad Mughal
Shikarpur
