Laiba case exposes official apathy

Meanwhile, Islamabad Police maintain that the only suspect nominated in the case registered at Ramna Police Station was allegedly killed by gunfire from his accomplices during an encounter while in police custody. The police say the case has been closed.

One of the latest complaints to emerge is that of Atif Jan, a resident of Ghazi Kot in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, who approached the FIA Abbottabad on December 11, 2025. In his application, he alleged that Noman, along with his relatives, had promised to secure jobs for three people, including his sister, in a sensitive government institution.

The suspects allegedly collected Rs975,000 in the name of security clearance and medical examinations. Atif alleged that the suspects subsequently handed over fake appointment letters, which turned out to be forged when verified with the relevant departments.

The Express Tribune, the FIA Abbottabad referred the complaint to Abbottabad Police on July 7, 2026, stating that the matter fell within the police's jurisdiction rather than the FIA's.

However, the Abbottabad DPO returned the application to the FIA on July 20, saying the matter did not fall within Abbottabad's jurisdiction and should instead be forwarded to the Mansehra DPO.The FIA Cyber Crime Wing subsequently forwarded the complaint to the Mansehra DPO on July 29, 2026.

Speaking to The Express Tribune, Jan said he had paid the money to secure jobs for his sister and two cousins but became suspicious of the suspect at an early stage and refused to pay any further amount. Meanwhile, three other alleged victims, Malaika, Faryal and Saima, all relatives and residents of Mansehra, have also come forward.

Mansehra City Police Station, the women alleged that Noman had promised to arrange jobs for them and collected money on the pretext of security clearance and medical examinations. They said the suspect even summoned them to the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) in Rawalpindi for medical examinations.

However, when they approached the relevant departments to join their jobs after receiving appointment letters, they discovered that the documents were fake. Their father, Muhammad Sultan, he had approached the FIA months before Laiba's death.

However, after keeping his application for three months, the agency returned it, saying the matter fell within the police's jurisdiction. Sultan said he had submitted complaints and evidence against Noman to the FIA, police and other relevant institutions, but none had arrested him.

He further alleged that a few months before Laiba's death, he had informed the investigation officer handling his case at Mansehra City Police Station that Noman was allegedly defrauding another girl, named Laiba.