Gold medalist’s death linked to alleged US admission fraud

Police in Islamabad have expanded their investigation into the suspected suicide of a university graduate in Sector G-10, as her family alleges that she was defrauded by an education consultant who promised to secure her admission to a university in the United States.

The student, identified as Laiba, had reportedly completed her bachelor’s degree from the International Islamic University Islamabad with a gold medal. According to her family, she wanted to pursue higher education abroad and had approached a consultant who claimed he could arrange her admission to an American university.

Police said the investigation was examining different aspects of the case. The student’s post-mortem report had not yet been received, and authorities said the exact cause of death would be established after the report became available.

According to the family, the consultant demanded Rs7 million to arrange the student’s admission abroad. They alleged that he provided her with a fraudulent admission letter and other documents, which later turned out to be fake when she had them verified.

The family said Laiba’s father, who earns a living by selling milk on a motorcycle, had made significant financial sacrifices to support his children’s education. The family lived in a rented flat, and her father reportedly sold a plot of land to arrange Rs2.1 million in cash, which was handed over to the consultant.

The family further claimed that Laiba’s mother’s jewellery was pledged at a bank to help arrange the remaining money. The alleged fraud came to light when the student had the university admission documents checked and discovered that they were not genuine.

The incident has raised questions about the financial and emotional consequences of alleged overseas education fraud, particularly for families who invest their savings in the hope of providing better educational opportunities for their children.

According to the family, Laiba sent a final message to her maternal uncle before her death. In the message, she reportedly asked him not to tell her father about the alleged fraud, fearing that the news would devastate him.

Police are continuing their investigation to establish the circumstances surrounding the student’s death and examine the family’s allegations against the consultant. The allegations have not yet been independently verified, and the post-mortem report remains a key part of determining the cause of death.