Sara Sharif's grandfather wins permanent guardianship of her five siblings in Pakistani court ruling

From the Newshound archive · first published 10 October 2026.

A Pakistani court has granted permanent guardianship of Sara Sharif's five siblings to their paternal grandfather, bringing to an end years of legal uncertainty for the children since their sister was tortured and murdered in Woking in 2023. The grandfather confirmed that the children's British citizenship would be preserved, leaving open the option of returning to the UK whenever they wish. The eldest sibling told the judge the family was settled and said "that's all good" when informed of the ruling.

All five children, now aged between four and 16, have been living at their grandfather's home in Pakistan since August 2023, after Sara's killers fled the UK.

Sara's father Urfan Sharif was jailed for a minimum of 40 years and stepmother Beinash Batool for a minimum of 33 years for the murder of the 10-year-old.

Surrey County Council had fought through Pakistani courts to repatriate the children but stepped back from the case in June, citing an inability to take the matter any further.