Suspect in Laiba Ijaz Suicide Case Killed in Firing by Accomplices
Islamabad police say Muhammad Noman was hit by bullets fired by his own accomplices while being taken to recover evidence
By AXY Pakistan Desk ·
Key points
- Muhammad Noman, a key suspect in the Laiba Ijaz suicide case, was killed after four armed men on two motorcycles fired on a police party near Ramna police station, according to Islamabad police.
- Police say Noman was hit by bullets fired by his own accomplices, who were trying to free him while officers were taking him to recover evidence.
- Police allege Noman defrauded Laiba, a gold medallist from the IIUI, by promising a US university admission and providing fake documents.
- Police sources say Noman used an online account and ChatGPT to impersonate a woman and her brother in conversations with Laiba.
- Search operations are underway to arrest the remaining accomplices, and the fraud allegations remain a preliminary account from police sources.
Islamabad police said on Tuesday that Muhammad Noman, a key suspect in the alleged suicide case of Laiba Ijaz, was killed after armed men opened fire on a police party within the limits of Ramna police station. In a statement, a spokesperson for the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) police said the team was taking Noman to recover evidence based on his identification when the attack happened. Four suspects riding two motorcycles fired on the team in an attempt to free him from custody, the spokesperson said, and Noman was hit by bullets fired by his own accomplices. He was taken to hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries. The police team was not hurt because the officers wore bulletproof jackets and took other precautionary measures. Search operations are underway to arrest the suspect's remaining accomplices.
Laiba, a gold medallist who had completed her BS degree at the International Islamic University Islamabad (IIUI), died by suicide earlier this month. Police allege that Noman defrauded her on the pretext of arranging admission to a US university and gave her fake documents. Her death has drawn attention in the capital, and the killing of a central suspect while officers were collecting evidence adds a sharp new turn to the investigation.
Who Laiba Ijaz was and how the case began
The IIUI is a public university in Islamabad. A gold medal is usually awarded to students who finish at the top of their class, so Laiba's academic record was the kind that reflects years of sustained effort. Her case has been reported as a suicide linked to an alleged fraud, and it is the alleged fraud that connects her death to the suspect who was later killed.
According to police sources, Noman first came into contact with Laiba in March 2023, when she applied for an internship at an insurance company where he worked. She could not join the office because she was giving tuition classes at the time. Noman later hired Laiba, her sister and her mother to advertise a tuck shop, a small retail outlet that sells snacks and everyday goods. The shop was managed by a woman named Aiza, whose brother lived in the United States. That family connection later became central to the alleged scheme, because it gave Noman a link to someone who, in his account, could help with an American visa.
How the alleged fraud unfolded
When Laiba sought Noman's help in obtaining a US visa, he allegedly assured her that he could arrange it through Aiza's brother. Preliminary investigations revealed that Noman allegedly created a second online account posing as Aiza. Police sources said he used ChatGPT, a widely available text-generating tool, to impersonate Aiza and her brother in conversations with Laiba. Impersonation of this kind is a common feature of online fraud, since a familiar name and a convincing tone can make a victim less likely to question requests or documents.
Noman allegedly sent Laiba documents that appeared genuine. She became suspicious after he repeatedly changed her visa interview date. He first told her it would be September 1, then September 17, and finally September 26. She then checked the documents and found they were fake, the sources said. Visa interviews for the United States are handled through official channels, and applicants are generally expected to schedule them directly, which is why repeated changes to an interview date are widely treated as a warning sign. The police account comes from unnamed sources and has not been tested in court, so it should be read as the investigation's current version of events rather than a settled finding.
Fraud schemes of this type often rely on a chain of trust. A victim may be introduced to an intermediary who claims to have a contact at a university or embassy, and documents are then used to build confidence. Because the people involved can be anywhere, including abroad, families are often advised to check admission letters with the university's own admissions office and to confirm visa appointments through the official embassy or consulate website rather than through a go-between.
The shooting near Ramna police station
The police statement describes a sudden attack on a team that was transporting a suspect for a step in the investigation. Recovering evidence based on a suspect's identification is a standard part of criminal inquiries. It usually means the suspect is taken to a location he has pointed out, where items linked to the crime may be found. Such trips are often made with protective equipment, and the spokesperson said the bulletproof jackets and other precautions protected the officers, who were unhurt.
The spokesperson said four suspects on two motorcycles opened fire in an attempt to free Noman from custody. He was hit by bullets fired by his own accomplices, according to the statement, and was shifted to hospital, where he died. The statement does not say how the accomplices knew of the planned movement, and it does not name the people involved in the attack. Attacks on police escorts during custody transfers draw close scrutiny because they test how well officers plan routes, timing and protection when handling suspects who may have associates willing to use force.
The spokesperson's account gives police a clear narrative, but it is still an official statement made shortly after the incident. Details such as the number of officers present, the exact location of the attack and the sequence of shots may be refined as the investigation proceeds.
Why the case matters beyond one family
The case touches several issues that reach well beyond one family in Islamabad. Schemes that promise overseas study, jobs or visas can cost families large sums of money and can exploit young people who feel pressure to build a future abroad. When such schemes use fake documents and online impersonation, victims may find it harder to tell genuine offers from fraudulent ones. Education and consumer advocates often recommend that applicants verify every offer directly with the institution concerned and never send money or personal documents to intermediaries they have not independently checked.
The case also carries a human cost. Laiba's death has been reported as a suicide, and the circumstances around it are now part of a criminal investigation. Fraud that leaves a young person feeling trapped, ashamed or hopeless can have devastating consequences, and families in such situations often need support as well as answers. Anyone who is struggling with distress, or who knows someone in that position, should seek help from a doctor, a local health service or a trusted person without delay.
For readers in Pakistan, the case also raises questions about how the justice system handles suspects who are in custody. A suspect who is killed before trial cannot give evidence in court, which may make it harder for investigators to establish the full picture of the alleged fraud and the people who worked with him.
What happens next
The most immediate question is whether police can arrest the remaining accomplices, whom the spokesperson said are being actively sought. Investigators will also need to confirm the sequence of events described in the preliminary findings, including the role of the online accounts, the documents Noman allegedly provided and the identity of anyone else who was involved in the visa claims. If the fraud allegations are supported by evidence, they may shape the charges brought against those responsible for the scheme.
The shooting itself is likely to be examined. Questions about how the transfer was planned, how the team was equipped and how the attackers learned of the movement may become part of any official review. The police statement did not say whether an internal inquiry has been ordered, so that remains an open question for the coming days. Until further statements are issued, the account of the attack remains the one given by the ICT police spokesperson, and the details of the fraud remain the preliminary account drawn from police sources.
Readers following the case should watch for official updates on arrests, any formal charges, and whether the investigation identifies the people behind the fake documents and the online accounts. Those developments will determine whether the case becomes a clearer example of how visa and admission fraud operates, or whether key questions remain unresolved after the suspect's death.
Questions and answers
Who was killed in the Laiba Ijaz case?
Islamabad police said Muhammad Noman, a key suspect in the alleged suicide case of Laiba Ijaz, was killed on Tuesday after armed men opened fire on a police party near Ramna police station.
Who fired on the police party?
According to the ICT police spokesperson, four suspects riding two motorcycles opened fire to free Noman from custody, and he was hit by bullets fired by his own accomplices.
What did police allege Noman did to Laiba Ijaz?
Police allege Noman defrauded Laiba on the pretext of arranging admission to a US university and gave her fake documents. Police sources also say he used an online account and ChatGPT to impersonate others in conversations with her.
Are police still searching for suspects?
Yes. Police said search operations are underway to arrest the suspect's other accomplices, and the statement did not report any further arrests.
Topics: Laiba Ijaz, Muhammad Noman, Islamabad police, Ramna police station, International Islamic University Islamabad, visa fraud, Islamabad Capital Territory
Sources: Geo News
https://axynewsglobal.com/article/suspect-in-laiba-ijaz-suicide-case-killed-in-firing-by-accomplices