Harvard Dream Shattered: Pakistani Family's Tragedy Amidst Fraud and Unanswered Questions

In Islamabad's G-10 neighbourhood, the Rana Malik Center, a local dairy shop, advertises its products. Above it, Rana Muhammad Ijaz has resided with his family for over three decades. In late October, Ijaz shared with Al Jazeera how his youngest daughter, Laiba, would prepare his morning and evening tea, a ritual now painfully missed. Laiba Ijaz, a 24-year-old physics gold medallist from the International Islamic University Islamabad (IIUI), was discovered deceased near her home on October 9. Preliminary police findings suggest suicide, following a fraudulent scheme where a man promised her admission to Harvard University, defrauding her family of millions of rupees.

The accused, Muhammad Noman, was apprehended two days after Laiba's death. He died on October 20 from gunshot wounds sustained while in police custody, with authorities claiming accomplices opened fire to facilitate his escape. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi visited the grieving family on October 21, returning over 5 million rupees ($18,000) reportedly recovered from Noman. However, this sum offers little solace to Ijaz, who has lost his most cherished possession – his daughter.

Despite Ijaz and his wife having limited formal education, all four of their daughters pursued university degrees. Two sisters specialized in mathematics, while another spent a year in China studying Mandarin. Laiba, a scholarship recipient, earned a gold medal at IIUI, a moment of immense joy for the family. She later taught science at an Islamabad school and provided tuition to younger children. Although IIUI offered her a scholarship for studies in Saudi Arabia, Laiba aspired to pursue higher education in the US. She requested her father's financial support for her overseas studies, a request he readily agreed to, initiating their pursuit of the American dream.

Their path led them to Noman, who claimed to work at the Supreme Court and presented a service card, asserting his government employee status exempted him from needing a license. Ijaz, initially reassured by the card's appearance and the verification from those nearby, agreed to Noman's offer to assist with Laiba's application. This decision proved to be their gravest error. The family began making payments, starting with 2.2 million rupees ($7,900) for university fees. Noman later demanded an additional 7.2 million rupees ($25,900) for proof of funds, insisting it pass through his account for conversion to dollars. To meet this demand, Ijaz sold a plot of land and family jewellery.

Documents shared with Al Jazeera, including Harvard offer and scholarship letters, a US immigration form, a sponsor’s affidavit, an embassy record, and a business-class ticket to Boston, initially appeared legitimate. The file also included a bank statement in Laiba’s name and a visa interview date of October 12. However, in early October, when Ijaz contacted Noman for interview preparation, Noman's evasiveness raised suspicions. A subsequent check by a travel agent revealed the Boston ticket was fake, and a lawyer neighbour confirmed the documents' inauthenticity. The family learned the devastating truth on October 6.

Despite the shattering news, Laiba reportedly clung to hope that US authorities or Harvard might still process a genuine application. On the morning of October 9, as Ijaz prepared to close his shop, Laiba mentioned receiving a message from Noman, who intended to visit. Ijaz, sensing deception, advised her not to engage, but Laiba left home despite her mother's protests after receiving another message from Noman. Her family, unable to locate her, used a phone-tracking app. They found her body around 3:30 PM that day, less than two hours after she had left home. Zaid bin Afzal, Laiba’s brother-in-law, called the police and informed Ijaz that Laiba was refusing to come home, a pretense that failed to mask the grim reality.

Laiba's story highlights a growing trend of Pakistani students seeking education in the US. Over 13,000 Pakistani students were enrolled in US institutions during the 2024-2025 academic year, a significant increase. The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) confirmed Noman was not a registered visa agent, and the industry body All Pakistan Association of Foreign Education and Immigration Consultants noted the absence of regulation for education consultancies in Pakistan. Nushmiya Sukhera, cofounder of CollegeWorks, stated that no consultancy can guarantee admission.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif ordered Noman's arrest following Laiba's death. While police registered a case, Noman died on October 20 during an alleged attempt by accomplices to free him, resulting in a shootout with police. Ijaz views Noman's death as a form of justice. Investigations into the attack on Noman are ongoing. Police officials stated that initial postmortem findings for Laiba pointed to suicide, citing footage of her leaving home alone. However, Ijaz and his family vehemently reject this conclusion, asserting that Noman was responsible for her death.