ISLAMABAD – A young student’s dream of reaching America has been overshadowed by tragedy, as reported death of Laiba Ejaz in Islamabad raises heartbreaking questions over an alleged Rs5 million travel scam and the price vulnerable families may pay for misplaced trust.
Laiba Ejaz’s body was recovered from green belt near the former traffic police post close to G-10 Sunday Bazaar, within the jurisdiction of Ramna Police Station. According to a report by Express, she was found hanging from a tree. Police shifted the body to a hospital and launched an investigation to establish the circumstances surrounding her death.
The case has drawn further attention following preliminary allegations that Laiba had paid Rs5 million, equivalent to Rs50 lakh, to an agent identified in media reports as Nauman for assistance with travelling to the United States.
According to the allegations, the documents provided to her were purportedly forged, and the situation reportedly caused her severe mental distress. However, the claims have not been confirmed to Pakistan Observer by police, and investigators have yet to establish whether the payment was made, whether the documents were fraudulent or whether the alleged transaction had any connection to her death.
Initial reports said Laiba left her home at around 2pm on the day of the incident. Her location was reportedly traced to the vicinity where her body was later discovered. SHO of Ramna Police Station, Homicide Unit personnel and senior police officials reportedly reached the scene as the investigation got underway.
Although the incident is being treated as a suspected suicide at the preliminary stage, the circumstances remain under investigation. An official determination of the cause of death, including any findings from a post-mortem examination, had not been made public in the available reports as of October 9, 2026.
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Investigators still need to verify the identity and alleged role of the person named as Nauman, establish the authenticity of the documents and determine whether any financial transaction took place.
It also remains unclear whether the alleged travel scam contributed to the events preceding Laiba’s death. No definitive official finding had established the nature of the incident or confirmed a causal connection to the reported fraud.
The allegations have brought renewed attention to the risks faced by students and families who depend on private agents for international travel arrangements and visa documentation.
