Sara Sharif's Five Siblings to Remain in Pakistan Following Surrey County Council Withdrawal
The five siblings of Sara Sharif, the 10-year-old girl murdered by her father and stepmother in Woking, will remain in Pakistan. Surrey County Council has confirmed its withdrawal from the protracted legal proceedings aimed at securing their return to the UK, citing the conclusion of English court proceedings as the reason.
Years of Legal Wrangling Conclude
The children have been living with their paternal grandfather in Jhelum since October 2023. This outcome follows nearly three years of complex, stop-start court battles in Pakistan concerning their final custody and country of residence. Despite being made wards of court in England, the council’s attempts to repatriate them through the Pakistani legal system have ultimately failed. The children’s grandfather consistently fought to keep them in Pakistan, where they are currently enrolled in school, with the exception of the youngest.
Surrey County Council stated it no longer possesses the capacity to pursue the application in Pakistan as English proceedings conclude. The final custody decision remains pending, but any current resolution will see the children stay in Pakistan. Their grandfather's lawyer noted that, as the children hold joint nationality, they retain the option to return to the UK in the future should they choose.
Background to the Case
Sara Sharif’s body was discovered at a Woking property on 10 August 2023. Her father, Urfan Sharif, stepmother, Beinash Batool, and uncle, Faisal Malik, had fled to Pakistan with the five children. After weeks in hiding, the children were located during a police raid on Urfan Sharif's father's house in Jhelum on 11 September 2023. They were initially placed in a childcare facility before their grandfather was granted temporary custody in October 2023.
The adults returned to the UK on 13 September 2023, where they were arrested at Gatwick Airport. Urfan Sharif and Beinash Batool were subsequently convicted of Sara’s murder and sentenced to life imprisonment. Faisal Malik received a 16-year sentence for causing or allowing her death, with the judge describing the cruelty involved as “almost inconceivable.”
Following the convictions, the English court had ordered the children’s return to England, instigating Surrey County Council's legal challenge in Pakistan. However, Pakistani courts never ruled on the council's jurisdiction over the children, leading to the current impasse and the council’s withdrawal.
