Pakistani Court Orders Temporary Custody for Sara Sharif’s Siblings
A Pakistani court has issued an order for the temporary placement of five of Sara Sharif’s siblings, who had traveled from the UK to Pakistan with their father. The ruling followed a police raid in which the children were taken from their grandfather’s house, where they had been staying since August.
Fleeing Suspects and Investigation
Sara Sharif’s father, Urfan Sharif, his partner Beinash Batool, and his brother Faisal Malik fled the UK for Pakistan after the tragic death of 10-year-old Sara in their family home in Woking, Surrey, on August 10. Pakistani and Surrey police have been actively searching for the fugitive trio. Sara’s death raised suspicions as a post-mortem examination revealed she had suffered “multiple and extensive injuries” over a prolonged period.
Children Found at Grandfather’s Home
On Monday evening, the group of children was discovered by police at the home of Sara’s grandfather, Muhammad Sharif, in Jhelum, Pakistan. The children had been residing there since August 10. Muhammad Sharif confirmed that police had conducted a raid at his residence and expressed his refusal to allow the children to leave with their parents.
Concerns and Witness Accounts
Muhammad Sharif explained that he hadn’t received any communication from his son and his partner, possibly out of fear that the police would intensify their efforts. Eyewitnesses reported that police conducted the property search, temporarily halting traffic and urging onlookers not to record the operation on their mobile phones.
Sisters of Urfan Sharif told the BBC that the children were distressed when they were separated from Sara’s grandfather’s home. Police officer Nasir Mahmood Bajwa stated that the children have been in safe custody since their recovery and were subsequently presented before the court, which ordered their placement under the custody of the Child Protection Bureau in Rawalpindi city, near Islamabad.
Continued Search for Suspects
Efforts to locate Sara’s father, stepmother, and uncle continue in Pakistan, as they had traveled to Islamabad one day before the discovery of Sara’s body. Pakistani authorities confirmed that the suspects remain in hiding, while 10 close relatives have been detained for questioning as part of the investigation. Pakistani police often detain relatives of wanted suspects but do not incarcerate them to avoid judicial intervention.
Public Statements and Grieving Family
Beinash Batool, Sara’s stepmother, made a public statement in which she referred to Sara’s death as an “incident” and expressed her and her husband’s willingness to cooperate with UK authorities regarding the case. Sara’s mother, Olga Sharif, gave an emotional interview in which she described her distressing experience viewing her daughter’s body, highlighting signs of injury.
Surrey Police are actively seeking information to piece together Sara’s life and the circumstances surrounding her tragic death.
Share on Facebook «||» Share on Twitter «||» Share on Reddit «||» Share on LinkedIn