Sarah Sharif’s grandfather says he will fight to prevent murdered girl’s brother from returning to UK from Pakistan

Sarah Sharif’s grandfather has vowed to prevent the murdered schoolgirl’s brother from returning to the UK, insisting he is safer in Pakistan.

Muhammad Sharif, 69, claims his five children have no intention of returning to the UK, despite the UK government’s best efforts to have them.

The two were taken to Pakistan by Sara’s father Urfan Sharif (43), her stepmother Baynash Batur (30), and her uncle Faisal, who fled within hours of Sara’s death. I left the country where I had spent most of my life.

The body of 10-year-old Sarah, who had endured unimaginable ordeals at the hands of her father and stepmother for years, was also found at her parents’ home in Woking, Surrey.

They bound her arms and legs, covered her head with a plastic bag secured with courier tape, beat her with a cricket bat, a metal rod and a rolling pin, strangled her until her neck broke, and burned her with an iron. It also included letting people know. bit her.

When police found her broken little body, dumped under the pink cover of a bunk bed by her fleeing family, there were so many wounds, at least 71 external fractures. There were 29 wounds, so it was impossible to determine which wound caused her death.

Despite the court evidence and conviction, Muhammad Sharif, who is fighting to protect Sara’s brothers, continues to believe his son is innocent.

The Sunday Times reported that he “did not know the extent of the abuse or mistreatment, but was aware that her stepmother, Batur, had not treated Sarah well…she had been subjected to brutal beatings. I can’t understand that,” he said. Baynash Batur’s act as a stepmother to Sarah… It was inappropriate. She frequently scolded and hit her.

Sarah’s brother, who cannot be named for legal reasons, has been made a ward of the court and cannot be removed from England or Wales without permission.

However, their grandfather is currently contesting an application filed by Surrey County Council in the High Court in Lahore to have the children returned to the UK.

The Sunday Times reports that Mr Mohammed, a former army officer and father of seven children, is optimistic he will win his case.

He claimed, “My five grandchildren live at my parents’ house in Jhelum.” The children live happily with us without ever asking about their parents.

“Legal proceedings regarding the custody of the children are ongoing in the Lahore High Court. They are enrolled in a reputed school and we will personally transport them to and from the school to ensure their safety.

“I am their guardian, this is the safest place for them, they have a connection to me and they are not going to leave me. We will win the case.”

Surveillance camera footage showed Urfan Sharif, Baynash Batur and Faisal Malik checking into the plane. Heathrow Airport following the tragic death of Sarah.

The ensuing hunt kept them on the run for a month, but they eventually returned to Britain, leaving their children behind.

The reciprocal rules emphasize that both the British and Pakistani governments must repatriate anyone who is “unlawfully detained” in either country.

Grandfather Mohammed had previously fought for custody of his children, claiming that Pakistani authorities were not properly caring for them.

Speaking to Mail Online ahead of a custody hearing in Jhelum, he said: “The children belong to our family and we should look after them.”

“I visited the homes where they are staying and their health is deteriorating and the situation is not good. They are being fed stale bread and are not receiving proper treatment. It’s wrong for them not to be with us.

“We can give them the love and support they need during this difficult time. The children are crying and asking to be taken home.”

Mohammed Sharif told the court in October that two of the girls have special needs, another has severe asthma, and the youngest is still bottle-fed. .

Becoming a ward of the state in the UK means that the day-to-day care and control of children is left to Parliament, but significant developments in the children’s lives are subject to court approval. It becomes necessary.

Mohammed Sharif claimed that before Sara’s murder, he had spoken to his son, convict Urfan Sharif, every day and had planned to visit his family’s home in Jhelum. did.

The Lahore High Court postponed the latest hearing in the custody case until mid-January, when Sharif, Batur and Malik were found guilty and the children were placed with their grandfather.

Muhammad Sharif said that when the convicts arrived in Pakistan, they immediately came to his home.

He added, “I could hardly believe it when Urfan unexpectedly came to our family home in Jhelum and told us that Sara was no more.

“I was expecting her to arrive with them, but then I found out the shocking news about her. I was heartbroken, cried and screamed. It was heartbreaking for me. It was a shocking experience…When the police began searching, they left early the next morning to avoid arrest.”

After Sarah’s death, Urfan Sharif told police that he had “legally punished” her for her mischief and admitted that he had “taken her too far”.

Her body was discovered on August 10, 2023.

As part of the ensuing raids, Pakistani police raided 20 locations, including Mohammad Sharif’s home.

Urfan Sharif’s two brothers and brother-in-law were detained at a secret location to pressure the fugitives to surrender.

Another relative, Rasik Munir, helped rescue the family from hiding in a nearby cornfield, BBC News reported. Munir said he drives her between her home and Jhelum and takes her for haircuts and ice cream.

The children were found at Mr Mohammed’s home on September 11, and two days later Mr Urfan, Mr Batur and Mr Malik returned to the UK and were detained at Gatwick Airport.

Sarah Sharif’s two-year ordeal of abuse was overlooked by social services despite teachers raising concerns about the 10-year-old’s bruises on at least three occasions.

Her death led to an independent child protection review, which also came under heavy criticism of Surrey County Council, with new court documents released suggesting 15 chances to save Sarah were missed.

Foreign Secretary Hamish Falconer said of the children: “They must be returned or the Pakistani government must check on their welfare and guarantee their safety. At the moment, we have neither of those and that is unacceptable. Why do foreign Should people be returned?” The government needs to continue raising this issue with the Pakistani government. It’s not enough for the old man to say the children are with me. ”

Will Forster, Liberal Democrat MP for Woking, added: “Surrey County Council wants the children back and will house them all together.” They housed them, cared for them and kept them together. They made that promise to me. ”

A council spokesperson said: “We are working closely with all relevant agencies to navigate this very complex situation sensitively and carefully.” Our top priority remains the well-being of our children and we ask that their privacy be respected. ”

We have asked the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for comment.