Islamabad: Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has returned approximately PKR five million recovered in the Laiba Ejaz fraud case to her family, as investigators continue examining the alleged scheme behind promises of admission, a scholarship and a US visa.
Naqvi visited the family’s G 10 residence on Wednesday with Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry. Laiba’s father confirmed receiving recovered money, according to The Express Tribune. Aaj reported the amount as PKR 5.1 million and said Naqvi assured the family that efforts to recover the balance would continue.
The return of funds represents financial recovery in the investigation, rather than an announced compensation payment or personal donation.
Naqvi offered condolences and briefed the family on the case. Islamabad’s chief commissioner, police chief and other officials also attended. Laiba’s father thanked the prime minister and interior minister for their support.
Laiba, a gold medallist from the International Islamic University Islamabad (IIUI), wanted to pursue further education in the US. Her family alleges that an education consultant supplied fraudulent admission and scholarship documents after collecting substantial payments.
The FIA registered a case against Muhammad Nauman and Fatima Sarwar over the alleged deception. Earlier court reporting cited an alleged payment of PKR 9.3 million for the visa and scholarship arrangements. That figure should be distinguished from the amount recovered and returned.
The visit came a day after Nauman died following an alleged encounter in Islamabad.
Police said he was accompanying officers for evidence recovery when armed men attacked the team. According to their account, he was wounded by the attackers’ firing and later died in hospital. The circumstances remain a police account rather than an independently established finding.
Laiba’s death has been reported as suicide. Her family described severe distress surrounding the alleged fraud, but that account should not be treated as a complete medical explanation of her death.
Returning money addresses one part of the family’s loss. Establishing the roles of other suspects, tracing outstanding funds and examining the circumstances of Nauman’s death remain separate questions.
