Physics gold medallist woman dies by suicide in Pakistan:Scammed out of Rs 93 lakh on promise of admission to Harvard

A 20-year-old woman in Pakistan died by suicide after being defrauded of Rs 93 lakh in the name of education. The woman, a Physics gold medallist, was named Laiba Ejaz. She wanted to study at Harvard University in the United States. Her family alleges that a man who promised to secure her admission, scholarship and US visa took money from her and gave her forged documents. Laiba’s body was found on 9 October in a market in Islamabad’s G-10 Sector. Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has arrested one accused in the case. Family sold land and mortgaged jewellery to help Laiba study at Harvard Laiba was from Sargodha in Pakistan’s Punjab province. She had graduated in Physics from the International Islamic University Islamabad and won a gold medal. Her dream was to pursue higher studies in the United States and become a scientist. Her father has supported the family by selling milk and yoghurt on the streets of Islamabad since 1994. He sold the land he had bought to build a house to fund his daughter’s education. Her mother also pawned her jewellery. According to media reports, Laiba had received a scholarship to study in Saudi Arabia, but she prioritised her dream of studying in the United States. ₹93 lakh taken on promise of securing admission and a visa The family had contacted a man named Mohammad Nouman. He claimed to be a consultant specialising in overseas education and assured them that he would secure admission to Harvard, a scholarship and a US visa. The family alleges that Nouman took 93 lakh Pakistani rupees in return. He also provided documents related to university admission and the payment of fees, but they could not be verified later. According to Pakistan’s FIA, 29 lakh Pakistani rupees of this amount were transferred through Laiba’s bank account, while the remaining money was paid in cash. Documents could not be verified at the US embassy When Laba reached the US embassy in Islamabad for her visa interview, her documents could not be verified. The family also contacted Harvard University and the US embassy, but the documents were not found to be genuine. According to the family, the accused repeatedly postponed the date of the visa interview. He later said that the interview would take place on 12 October and demanded another 22 lakh Pakistani rupees for it. According to Laiba’s brother-in-law, Zaid bin Afzal, she was deeply distressed after learning about the alleged fraud. Before leaving home on 9 October, she asked her relative not to tell her father about it. One accused arrested, case also registered against another Pakistan’s FIA confirmed the arrest of Muhammad Nauman on 11 October. The agency has also registered a case against another individual, Fatima Sarwar. According to the FIA, the accused allegedly prepared fake scholarship letters, university admission offers and fee payment receipts. The agency is also investigating the role of other people in the case. Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif took cognisance of the case and directed police officers to take prompt action. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi also met Laiba’s family and assured them that he would monitor the case.