Five British Children Taken into Custody in Pakistan After Sara Sharif’s Tragic Death
In a recent development, five children who had traveled from the UK to Pakistan with their father, Urfan Sharif, and stepmother, Beinash Batool, are now in the care of Pakistani authorities. This decision came after a judge ruled to place them in a government childcare facility following a police raid on the residence of Sara Sharif’s grandfather, Muhammad Sharif.
The search for Urfan Sharif and Beinash Batool began when they left the UK one day before the tragic discovery of Sara Sharif’s lifeless body in her home in Woking, Surrey, on August 10. Surrey Police is keen to question them regarding Sara’s untimely death, which post-mortem tests revealed resulted from “multiple and extensive injuries.”
The children, ranging in age from one to 13 years old, were escorted by family members and local media into court today, surrounded by armed police. After a deliberation lasting about 40 minutes, the judge ordered that the children be placed temporarily in a government childcare facility. However, the judge did not specify the duration of their stay.
The search for Urfan, Batool, and Sara’s uncle, Faisal Malik, has intensified, with police conducting raids on approximately 20 homes in Pakistan. Ten close relatives, including Muhammad Sharif, were previously taken into custody for questioning.
Urfan and Batool made their first public appearance in Pakistan through a video statement, expressing their willingness to cooperate with UK authorities and defend their case in court. They also lamented the challenging conditions they face, with their family in hiding due to safety concerns, making it impossible for the children to attend school or even procure essential groceries.
Sara’s body was discovered after Urfan Sharif called emergency services (999) from Pakistan. An inquest into her death revealed that the cause remains undetermined but is likely to have been “unnatural” based on the findings of a previous post-mortem examination, which indicated “multiple and extensive injuries over a sustained period.”
Urfan, Batool, and Faisal fled to Pakistan on August 9, one day before Sara’s tragic demise. The absence of an extradition treaty between Pakistan and the UK poses challenges in bringing the suspects back for questioning.
This heartbreaking case continues to unfold, leaving many questions unanswered as investigators seek justice for young Sara Sharif.