Sara Sharif's Grandfather Appointed Guardian of Siblings in Pakistan
Court grants custody to paternal grandfather after murder of 10-year-old Sara Sharif; children to retain British citizenship.
A court in Pakistan has granted guardianship of Sara Sharif's siblings to their paternal grandfather. The decision follows the 2023 murder of 10-year-old Sara by her father and stepmother.
The five children, who range in age from four to 16, have been living in Pakistan since August 2023. They were brought to the country by Sara's father, stepmother, and uncle shortly after Sara's death. The children were discovered by police at their grandfather's home and initially placed in state care.
According to reports, the children informed the judge that they were comfortable and had settled in Pakistan. The grandfather has stated that the siblings will maintain their British citizenship, allowing them the option to return to the UK in the future.
Sara's father, Urfan Sharif, and stepmother, Beinash Batool, were convicted of her murder. Sharif received a minimum sentence of 40 years, while Batool was sentenced to a minimum of 33 years. Sara's uncle, Faisal Malik, was found guilty of causing or allowing her death and sentenced to 16 years.
Investigations revealed that Sara had been subjected to a two-year "campaign of torture," including being hooded, burned, and beaten, before her body was discovered at the family home in Woking, Surrey.