Main suspect in Laiba Ijaz murder dies after gunmen open fire on police convoy in Islamabad

Islamabad – The primary suspect in the case surrounding the death of International Islamic University Islamabad gold‑medallist Laiba Ijaz was killed when gunmen opened fire on a police team that was transporting him for medical treatment, police said. Muhammad Noman, who was in custody, was being taken to a hospital from the Ramna police station when four men on two motorcycles fired at the convoy in an apparent attempt to free him. Noman was wounded in the attack and later succumbed to his injuries. The police officers were unharmed, thanks to bullet‑proof vests and other safety measures, and a manhunt has been launched to apprehend the shooters and any accomplices.

Noman was the main accused in the investigation into Laiba Ijaz’s death, which was ruled a suicide after she allegedly lost Rs 9 million in a fraud that promised her a study opportunity in the United States. In a separate case, investigators have uncovered that Noman was also linked to a fraud in Mansehra, where he and alleged partners were accused of cheating a family out of Rs 8.5 million by promising government jobs for six of their children. The family later discovered that the appointment letters provided were forged and filed a fraud complaint against Noman and his co‑accused. After the complaint, Noman went into hiding and was declared a proclaimed offender by the court. The search for the gunmen who attacked the police team continues.