ISLAMABAD: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has taken notice of the death of 20-year-old Laiba Ijaz, an International Islamic University Islamabad student who was found dead after allegedly being defrauded of Rs5 million by a travel agent on the pretext of arranging a US education visa.
FIA Director Shehzad Bukhari has taken notice of the case, and the agency has contacted the deceased’s family to obtain further details, according to the family.
Laiba’s maternal uncle, Rana Amjad, confirmed that the FIA had contacted the family regarding the matter.
Laiba was found dead near a green belt close to Itwar Bazaar in Sector G-10, within the jurisdiction of Ramna police station, police said.
According to police officials, Laiba, a resident of G-10 Markaz, had allegedly paid Rs5 million to an agent to facilitate her travel to the United States for education. She later discovered that the documents provided to her were allegedly fake.
Police said she had reportedly been under severe mental stress after discovering the alleged fraud. She left her home at around 2pm without informing her family.
Her family subsequently used her mobile phone’s location to trace her to the green belt near Itwar Bazaar, where her body was found hanging from a tree, police said.
Police said the incident appeared to be a suspected suicide, but an investigation was underway to establish the circumstances surrounding her death.
Investigators are also examining the alleged fraud and the role of the travel agent who reportedly received the money for her planned journey to the United States.
Officials said the final circumstances of her death would become clearer following the post-mortem examination and completion of the investigation.
Islamabad student found dead after alleged fraud over US travel documents
