Sara Sharif: Pakistan court hearings take place over custody of children

Pakistani courts are discussing the temporary custody of five children who travelled from the UK with Sara Sharif’s father. 

Sara, 10, was found dead at her home in Surrey on 10 August. Just a day before her father, uncle and stepmother fled the UK for Pakistan. 

Post-mortem examinations found Sara suffered “multiple and extensive injuries”.

Sara’s father Urfan Sharif, stepmother Beinash Batool and his brother Faisal Malik left the UK with five children aged between one and 13.

All three adults are wanted in the UK as part of Surrey Police’s investigation into the murder of Sara. 

Pakistan police have so far not been able to locate them. 

On Tuesday, the children were carried by family members, surrounded by armed police and local media, into court for around 40 minutes. 

BBC News was told by several people who had been inside the courtroom that there was a discussion about whether this court had the jurisdiction to make a decision over temporary custody.

The children were then taken to another court, which also doesn’t allow cameras.