Laiba's family receives Rs5m back in US admission fraud case

The family of Laiba Ijaz, a gold medallist from the International Islamic University Islamabad who committed suicide after allegedly being defrauded of money on the pretext of securing admission to a university in the United States, has received Rs5 million back.

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry visited Laiba’s home and met her father, Rana Ijaz. Islamabad Chief Commissioner, Inspector General of Police and other officials were also present.

Naqvi handed over the recovered amount to Laiba’s father and offered condolences to the family. The interior minister said that the team had worked day and night to investigate the case, adding that fulfilling the promise made to the family was their responsibility.

Speaking to the media after the meeting, Rana Ijaz thanked the prime minister, the interior minister and other officials for their support.

“Riyasat maan jaisi hoti hai, yeh suna tha, aaj humein yaqeen ho gaya (We had heard that the state is like a mother; today, we have come to believe it)," he said.

He said he would never be able to forget what had happened to his family, but the support of the Pakistani people had brought him some comfort. “My daughter wanted to go abroad and serve the country,” he said.

Rana Ijaz said the Islamabad police had consistently given the family hope during the investigation. He added that officials had informed them that further cases against the suspect had emerged, including allegations that he had taken money from other girls in Mansehra.

He confirmed that the money taken from his family had been returned.

Islamabad police had arrested the main suspect, Noman, along with a female accomplice in connection with Laiba’s death. Noman was killed on Wednesday when his associates allegedly opened fire as police were taking him for investigation, according to the report.