Sara Sharif's grandfather vows to block murdered girl's siblings from returning to UK

The five children were taken to Pakistan by Sara’s father Urfan Sharif, stepmother Beinash Batool and her uncle Faisal, who fled only mere hours after Sara died.

The lifeless body of 10-year-old Sara was found at their family home in Woking, Surrey.

The young girl had suffered unimaginable abuse at the hands of her father and stepmother. This included bounding her arms and legs and covering her head in a plastic bag while beating her with a cricket bat, rolling pin and metal pole, strangling her until her neck broke, burning her with an iron and biting her.

Her body was found with over 71 external injuries and 29 fractures, making it impossible to figure out which wound caused her death.

Despite the guilty verdict and the evidence presented in court, Muhammad Sharif still believes his son is innocent.

According to The Sunday Times, the grandfather said: “While I was unaware of the extent of the mistreatment and abuse, I did recognise that Batool, the stepmother, was not treating Sara well … I cannot understand that she was subjected to brutal beatings. Beinash Batool's conduct as a stepmother towards Sara …. was inappropriate; she frequently scolded and beat her.”

Sara’s underage siblings have been made wards of the court which means they cannot be removed from England or Wales without approval.

However, an application by Surrey County council to the High Court in Lahore to bring the children back to the UK is being fought by their grandfather, who is optimistic he will win the case.

He said: “My five grandchildren reside with me in Jhelum at my family home. The children have not inquired about their parents and are happy living with us.”

He added that the children were enrolled in a “reputable school” and were being personally transported to school by him.

“I am their guardian and this is the safest place for them to live in, they have an association with me and they are not willing to leave me. We will win the case.”

According to reciprocal rules, the British and Pakistani governments must return anyone who has been “wrongfully retained” in either country.

Hamish Falconer, Foreign Office minister, said the grandfather’s words were not enough to ensure the children’s safety.

He stated: “They should be returned or the Pakistani government must check on their welfare and vouch for their safety, at the moment we have not had either, and that is unacceptable, and why the Foreign Office needs to continue to raise this with the Pakistani government. Having the grandfather saying the children are with me isn't good enough.”

Lib Dem MP for Woking Will Forster added: “Surrey county council wants the children back and they will house them all together. They would house them, they would look after them and keep them together. They have made that commitment to me.”

A council spokesman said they are still working through the complex situation, saying their priority is the wellbeing of the children.