ISLAMABAD: A judicial magistrate on Monday handed over the main suspect to police on a five-day physical remand in a case related to the suicide of a young woman who was allegedly defrauded.
The 20-year-old student, identified as Laiba Aijaz, allegedly died by suicide last week after a person defrauded her of Rs5 million, which she had paid to move to the United States for further studies, according to police.
The case drew the government’s attention, with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif directing the police to arrest the suspect. He and two of his female accomplices were later picked up during separate raids in the federal capital.
Subsequently, on Monday, the main suspect was produced before Judicial Magistrate Zunaira Zafar with his face covered. Police sought a 10-day physical remand in the case registered at Ramna police station.
Seeking the remand, the investigating officer told the court that a thorough examination of the facts and circumstances surrounding the incident was necessary.
The officer said further investigation was required to determine the suspect’s alleged role in the incident and verify the available evidence. Items linked to him and other potential evidence also needed to be examined, the officer added.
The allegations against the suspect remain subject to investigation.
The main suspect had previously served in the Quetta Anti-Corruption Department, from where he was dismissed.
Preliminary investigation showed that the main suspect, operating a gang with the two women and others, had also defrauded other people and minted millions of rupees.
The case
The deceased woman studied in the BS Physics programme at the International Islamic University Islamabad (IIUI) from 2019 to 2023. However, she was no longer enrolled at the university at the time of her death.
According to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), the suspect allegedly obtained millions of rupees from Laiba’s family with the help of a female accomplice and by misrepresenting his identity and professional status.
The money was allegedly taken on the pretext of securing employment for her brother and arranging her admission to Harvard University in the US. However, the suspect gave her fake travel documents, following which she committed suicide.
Police registered a case under Sections 322 (punishment for qatl-bis-sabab) and 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention) of the Pakistan Penal Code.
A separate case was registered by the FIA on a complaint lodged by Laiba’s maternal uncle under provisions relating to cheating, abetment and immigration-related fraud.
According to the FIR, Laiba’s father, Mohammad Aijaz, had agreed to pay Rs9.3 million to the suspect to arrange his daughter’s travel to the US. The family paid part of the amount through bank transfers and the remainder in cash. The suspect allegedly provided fake travel documents and a fraudulent transaction receipt.
The FIA said the suspects had also provided fake scholarship award letters, admission offers and university fee payment receipts.