PM Shehbaz takes notice of gold medallist’s suicide in Islamabad following education funds scam

Directs Islamabad police chief and chief commissioner to arrest the consultant accused of defrauding Laiba Ijaz.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday took notice of the death of Laiba Ijaz, a student at the International Islamic University Islamabad, who was found dead in the capital a day earlier.

Laiba, who had aspired to study at a US university, was found hanging from a tree near a road in Islamabad on Friday, after her family allegedly lost around Rs7 million to a consultant who had promised to secure her admission and a scholarship.

According to her family, they had lost around Rs7 million to a man who allegedly promised to secure her admission to a US university on a scholarship.

According to a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), the premier described the young student’s death as an extremely regrettable incident.

وزیراعظم محمد شہباز شریف کا اسلام آباد میں انٹرنیشنل اسلامک یونیورسٹی کی طالبہ لائبہ اعجاز کی خود کشی کا نوٹس، وزیرِ اعظم نے کہا کہ نوجوان طالبہ کی خود کشی انتہائی افسوس ناک واقعہ ہے.

وزیراعظم نے آئی جی اسلام آباد اور چیف کمشنر کو مرحومہ کے ساتھ فراڈ کرنے والے ملزم کو فوری طور… pic.twitter.com/qqzgkxbClA

— Prime Minister's Office (@PakPMO) October 10, 2026

“The accused should be arrested forthwith and awarded exemplary punishment in accordance with the law,” the prime minister said, directing the inspector general of Islamabad police and the chief commissioner to take immediate action against the suspect.

Laiba’s funeral prayers were offered on Saturday, with residents of the area mourning her death. Residents described her as an exceptionally talented and studious student.

The family has approached the Federal Investigation Agency to pursue legal action against the suspect, while the agency has obtained details of the alleged fraud and documents provided to the student as part of its proceedings.

Read: Islamabad student found dead after allegedly losing Rs7m in education scam

The family alleged that the suspect had lured Laiba with the promise of a scholarship at Harvard and provided her with a forged scholarship letter. They said he had also portrayed himself as her sponsor to obtain money from them.

According to the family, the suspect claimed to be an accounts officer at the Islamabad High Court and at other times presented himself as an employee of the superior judiciary or an officer of a sensitive institution.

The family further alleged that he had promised to secure a government job for Laiba’s brother and taken an additional Rs500,000 for the purpose.

Laiba’s brother had asked their father for money to start a business, but their father had decided to spend his resources on educating his daughter, the family said.

According to Laiba’s brother-in-law, the International Islamic University had offered her a scholarship to study in Saudi Arabia after she secured good marks in her bachelor’s degree.

When Laiba told the suspect about the offer, he allegedly claimed that he could arrange a scholarship for her in the United States instead.

The family said Laiba and her father had communicated with the suspect exclusively through WhatsApp. They also alleged that a woman was involved in the scheme. The suspect had told Laiba that the woman was based in the United States and worked for his company, they added.

The family alleged that the suspect had posed as an agent to facilitate Laiba’s travel abroad but had defrauded them instead. They said a forged admission letter purportedly issued by Harvard University had also been provided.