Interior minister returns Rs5 million to Laiba Ejaz's family, updates on case progress

Laiba's father expresses gratitude to PM Shehbaz, interior minister for their support and efforts in the case

ISLAMABAD:

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi on Wednesday handed Rs5 million to the family of late student Laiba Ejaz during a visit to her residence to offer condolences and brief the family on progress in the case.

Laiba, who had aspired to study at a top US university, was found hanging from a tree near a road in Islamabad on October 9, after her family allegedly lost around Rs7 million to a consultant who had promised to secure her admission and a scholarship.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif took notice of the incident and directed the inspector general of Islamabad police and the chief commissioner to take immediate action against the suspect. Naqvi also vowed to look into the case personally. The primary suspect in the case died after being wounded by gunfire from his own accomplices during an exchange of fire with police in Islamabad a day ago.

Laiba's father told The Express Tribune that the interior minister handed him Rs5 million recovered by the police from the primary suspect.

Naqvi was accompanied by Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry during the visit to Laiba's residence in G-10, Islamabad.

Read: PM takes notice of gold medallist's suicide

Naqvi expressed his condolences to the bereaved family and offered prayers.

The interior minister informed Laiba's family about the progress made in the investigation of her case/

“The entire team worked day and night on the Laiba Ejaz case. Fulfilling the promise made to you was our duty,” Naqvi said.

Read More: Primary suspect in Laiba Ejaz suicide case dies after being shot by accomplices: police

Laiba's father expressed his gratitude to PM Shehbaz and the interior minister for their support and efforts in the case.

“We had heard that the state is like a mother. Today, we have come to believe it,” he said.

Suspect killed

According to a police spokesperson, the primary suspect, identified as Muhammad Nauman, was in custody and was being taken to a location for recovery on the basis of information provided by him when the incident occurred.

The spokesperson said four of Nauman’s accomplices, travelling on two motorcycles, had been lying in wait along the route. They opened indiscriminate fire on the police team in an attempt to secure his release.

Nauman was wounded by gunfire from his own accomplices, the spokesperson said, adding that police personnel remained unharmed due to their bulletproof jackets and other precautionary measures.

The injured suspect was taken to a hospital for medical treatment but later succumbed to his injuries, the spokesperson confirmed.

Search operations were under way to arrest the remaining suspects, according to the police.

The Federal Investigation Agency’s (FIA) Anti-Human Trafficking Circle in Islamabad had registered a case against Nauman and Fatima Sarwar under Sections 419 (cheating), 420 (cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property) and 109 (abetment) of the Pakistan Penal Code, read with Sections 18 and 22 of the Emigration Ordinance, 1979.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects allegedly acted in connivance to deceive Laiba with promises of a US visa and scholarship. They allegedly received a total of Rs9.3 million from the family.

The FIA said the suspects allegedly prepared fake scholarship award letters, university admission offer letters and fee payment receipts to keep the family under the impression that the process was genuine. Of the total amount, Rs2.9m was transferred through Laiba’s personal bank account, while the remaining sum was received in cash, according to the agency.

Also Read: Islamabad court grants five-day remand of suspect in Laiba suicide case

Laiba's family stated that she had aspired to enrol at Harvard University for further studies and that they had made significant financial sacrifices to secure Laiba’s academic future and fulfil her dream. Laiba’s father sold his plot and pitched in Rs2.1 million from the sale’s proceeds, while her mother sold her gold jewellery.

According to the family, the suspect who reportedly defrauded them 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 claimed that despite the substantial payment, the promises regarding admission and the scholarship given to Laiba were never fulfilled.

Laiba’s maternal uncle, Rana Amjad, stated that the Harvard University admission letter, scholarship letter and other documents provided by the suspect turned out to be fake upon verification.

He said that Laiba suffered severe distress and mental anguish after the alleged fraud came to light. Her family demanded a thorough investigation into the matter, the arrest of all individuals involved in the alleged fraud, and the recovery of the money.