The brothers and sisters of the late Sara Sharif will continue to stay in Pakistan, despite the efforts of a UK council to provide support. Sara, aged 10, tragically lost her life at the hands of her father Urfan Sharif and stepmother Beinash Batool following a history of horrendous mistreatment. Her lifeless body was uncovered in a bunk bed at their residence in Woking, Surrey, on August 10, 2023, shortly after Sharif and Batool absconded to Pakistan with Sara’s five siblings.
Sharif and Batool were sentenced to life imprisonment in December 2024, with minimum terms of 40 years and 33 years, respectively, for their involvement in Sara’s demise. Additionally, Sara’s uncle, Faisal Malik, who was residing with the family, was found guilty of contributing to the child’s death and received a 16-year prison sentence.
The remaining siblings of Sara, shielded by a court order, were initially in the custody of their paternal grandfather but were later taken into state care after being located by Pakistani authorities during the search for Sharif, Batool, and Malik. Upon the return of the adults to the UK in September 2023, a High Court judge in London ruled that the children should be brought back to the UK, making them wards of the court.
Subsequently, Surrey County Council was granted permission to initiate proceedings in Lahore, Pakistan, aiming to repatriate the children. In December 2025, the High Court in England issued an ultimatum, stating that if no extension application was made and no progress in Pakistan occurred, the proceedings would be terminated in six months.
With the conclusion of the order, Surrey County Council announced its withdrawal from the case, citing the inability to further pursue the children’s return to the UK. Terence Herbert, the council’s chief executive, emphasized their exhaustive efforts to aid Sara’s siblings in Pakistan, noting the legal steps taken to ensure their repatriation.
Muhammad Sharif, Sara’s paternal grandfather, expressed his commitment to retaining custody of the children, highlighting their education and safety under his care. He asserted that the children have a strong bond with him and are unwilling to leave, expressing confidence in winning the custody battle.