ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — A man suspected of involvement in the case surrounding the death of Pakistani university graduate Laiba Ijaz allegedly used ChatGPT to impersonate a woman and her brother, misleading the student into believing he could secure a US visa for her, police sources have said.

Laiba, a gold medallist who completed her bachelor’s degree at the International Islamic University Islamabad (IIUI), hoped to pursue further studies in the United States. Her family alleges that Muhammad Noman defrauded her by promising to arrange admission to a US university and providing documents that later proved to be fake.

Her body was found hanging by the roadside in Islamabad’s G-10 sector on October 9. According to police sources, she had been under severe mental stress after discovering the alleged fraud. Authorities are investigating the circumstances surrounding her death.

Noman was arrested from Islamabad’s H-13 sector and placed on five days of physical remand by a judicial magistrate on October 12 for further questioning. Police are also investigating whether he may have defrauded other women.

According to investigators, Noman first came into contact with Laiba in March 2023, when she applied for an internship at an insurance company where he worked. Although she could not join the office because she was giving tuition, he later hired Laiba, her sister and mother to help advertise a tuck shop.

The shop was managed by a woman identified as Aiza, whose brother reportedly lived in the United States. When Laiba approached Noman for help obtaining a US visa, he allegedly assured her that he could arrange it through Aiza’s brother.

Police sources said preliminary investigations suggested that Noman created another online account posing as Aiza and allegedly used ChatGPT to impersonate both her and her brother in conversations with Laiba.

He allegedly sent her documents that appeared genuine, but her suspicions grew after he repeatedly changed her visa interview date. The dates were reportedly given as September 1, September 17 and September 26. Laiba subsequently checked the documents and discovered that they were allegedly fraudulent, according to investigators.

Police sources said Laiba had handed Noman Rs2.1 million, which her father obtained through the sale of a plot, along with jewellery belonging to her stepmother.

Under pressure to return the jewellery, Laiba allegedly asked Noman to give it back first, saying the remaining financial matter could be resolved later. Investigators said he subsequently began ignoring her and cut off contact.

Police suspect that other women may also have been targeted. Investigators said Noman had deleted data from his mobile phone before his arrest and planned a forensic examination to recover information that could help establish the extent of the alleged fraud and identify potential victims.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has taken notice of the case and directed authorities to pursue legal action. Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, accompanied by Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry, also met Laiba’s family and offered condolences, assuring them that the government would seek justice through the legal process.

The case has raised broader concerns about the potential misuse of artificial intelligence in online impersonation and fraud. ChatGPT and other AI tools can assist with legitimate research and communication, but investigators must establish whether and how the technology was used in this particular case.

The incident comes amid other reported cases in Pakistan involving AI chatbots and alleged criminal activity. In Bahawalpur, a 17-year-old student was arrested over an alleged attempt to poison his father, with investigators reportedly examining chatbot interactions related to poison. In Karachi, authorities investigated a separate case involving a teenager’s alleged murder-related conversations with an AI chatbot. The teenager denied planning a murder, saying he was researching a story, and no offence had been established against him at the time of reporting.

The allegations against Noman remain subject to investigation and have not been proven in court. Investigators are examining digital evidence, financial transactions and the disputed documents to determine what happened and whether others were involved.

For Laiba’s family, the immediate concern remains accountability and justice. The case has also highlighted the risks faced by students and families who place their trust in intermediaries promising overseas admissions and visas, particularly when those promises are supported by fabricated documents or misleading online identities.