The brothers and sisters of Sara Sharif, who was tragically killed in Pakistan, will continue to stay in the country despite extensive support efforts from a UK council. Sara, a 10-year-old girl, was murdered by her father, Urfan Sharif, and stepmother, Beinash Batool, following a history of severe abuse. Her body was found in a bunk bed at their residence in Woking, Surrey, on August 10, 2023, a day after the perpetrators fled to Pakistan with Sara’s five siblings.
Sharif and Batool were sentenced to life imprisonment with minimum terms of 40 years and 33 years, respectively, in December 2024 for the heinous crime. Sara’s uncle, Faisal Malik, who was present in the house during the incident, was also convicted and received a 16-year prison sentence.
The identities of Sara’s siblings were protected by a court order, and they were initially placed in the care of their paternal grandfather. However, after being located by Pakistani authorities during the search for the culprits, the children were taken into state custody.
Following the return of the adults to the UK in September 2023, a High Court judge in London made the children wards of court, necessitating their return to the UK. Surrey County Council subsequently sought permission from the High Court in Lahore, Pakistan, to facilitate the repatriation process.
In December 2025, the High Court in England issued an order stating that proceedings would be terminated in six months if no extension application was filed or if there were no developments in Pakistan. Consequently, Surrey County Council has announced its withdrawal from the proceedings, citing an inability to continue pursuing the return of the children to the UK.
Terence Herbert, the chief executive of Surrey County Council, emphasized the council’s unwavering support for Sara’s siblings in Pakistan. Despite the legal proceedings coming to a close, Sara’s paternal grandfather, Muhammad Sharif, vowed to fight for custody of the children, highlighting their safety and well-being under his care.