UK police arrest three relatives on return from Pakistan over girl’s death

This combination of pictures created on September 13, 2023 shows undated handout photos released by Surrey Police in London on September 6, 2023, of Urfan Sharif (L), Beinash Batool, and Faisal Malik. Urfan Sharif, the British-Pakistani father of 10-year-old Sara Sharif, who was found dead at her home in England last month. (Photo courtesy: Surrey Police / AFP)
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Updated 14 September 2023
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UK police arrest three relatives on return from Pakistan over girl’s death

  • Pakistani officials said Sara Sharif’s father and stepmom voluntarily returned to Britain with prior knowledge of authorities
  • The two appeared in a video earlier this month, saying they were willing to cooperate with UK authorities, fight case in court

LONDON: UK police on Wednesday arrested three British-Pakistani relatives of a 10-year-old girl on suspicion of her murder, moments after the trio landed back in Britain following a month on the run in Pakistan.

Sara Sharif’s body was discovered at the family’s home near Woking, southeast England, on August 10. A post-mortem examination revealed she had sustained “multiple and extensive injuries” over a sustained period.

Police had said Urfan Sharif, 41, his partner Beinash Batool, 29, and his brother Faisal Malik, 28, fled to Pakistan to take refuge with relatives before Sara’s body was found, sparking an international manhunt.

“This evening... three people were arrested in connection with this investigation at Gatwick Airport,” Surrey Police detective superintendent Mark Chapman said in a televised statement.

“Two men, aged 41 years and 28 years, and a woman aged 29 years were arrested on suspicion of murder after disembarking a flight from Dubai,” he added, without naming the trio in line with UK police practice.

The suspects flew from Pakistan to Britain via the gulf hub.

“They are currently in custody and will be interviewed in due course.”

A Pakistan police spokesman had earlier said that Sharif, Batool and Malik had voluntarily returned to Britain with the prior knowledge of authorities.

“I confirm that they have not been arrested but they left voluntarily,” Raja Haq Nawaz, a lawyer for Urfan Sharif’s father, also told AFP.

Earlier this month, Sharif and Batool appeared in a video distributed to media, in which Batool said they were “willing to cooperate with UK authorities and fight our case in court.”

“All of our family members have gone into hiding as everyone is scared for their safety,” she said, alleging malpractice by the Pakistan police hunting them.

In the two-and-a-half-minute low-quality video there was little mention of Sara’s death, which Batool called “an incident.”

Surrey Police have said the fugitive trio were thought to have flown to Islamabad on August 9, the day before Sara was discovered at the family’s home in the village of Horsell, just outside Woking.

An early morning emergency call alerting officers to Sara’s death was made from Pakistan by a man identifying himself as the father, detectives said.

The house was otherwise empty, and the manhunt continued with Interpol and Britain’s foreign ministry coordinating with authorities in Pakistan.

Five of her purported siblings, aged between one and 13 and brought to Pakistan with the adults, were discovered at the home of Urfan Sharif’s father on Monday.

A magistrate placed the children into state protective services on Tuesday.

Surrey Police have said they are working with other local and international authorities to secure the children’s safe return.

But it is unclear where they will ultimately be sent or for how long they may be kept in the custody of Pakistan’s child protection bureau.

Sara’s Polish mother, Olga Sharif, had been informed of the arrests and is being supported by specialist officers, the UK force also noted.

“Our thoughts remain with her and those affected by Sara’s death at this very difficult time,” Chapman said.

Olga Sharif has said in an interview that she could barely recognize her daughter’s small, battered body when she identified her at the mortuary last month.

She told Polish television one of her cheeks was swollen and the other side of her face was bruised.

Olga and Urfan separated in 2015, and Sara and her older brother had lived with their mother until a family court determined in 2019 that they should reside with their father, according to UK media.

Sara had been removed from primary school in April to be homeschooled by her stepmother and was known to the local council’s social services department, the British reports said.


Punjab, Beijing review protection of Chinese nationals in eastern Pakistan

Updated 4 sec ago
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Punjab, Beijing review protection of Chinese nationals in eastern Pakistan

  • Chinese nationals have increasingly come under attack in Pakistan, mostly by separatist militants, in recent months
  • Frustrated by the attacks, Beijing has been pushing Islamabad to bolster security for Chinese nationals

ISLAMABAD: Dr. Ahmad Javed Qazi, the home secretary of Pakistan’s Punjab, met Chinese Consul General Zhao Shiren on Wednesday to discuss security arrangements for Chinese nationals in the eastern province, the home department said in a statement.

The move follows Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s announcement last week to enhance security measures for Chinese nationals across Pakistan, aiming to boost bilateral engagement under the second phase of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

Beijing has been frustrated by a string of attacks on Chinese nationals in Pakistan since last year. These attacks have mostly been carried out by separatist Baloch militant groups, who accuse Pakistan and China of depriving locals in Balochistan of a share in the province’s mineral resources. Beijing has invested in the province with a key port and has mining interests there as well. Both Islamabad and Pakistan deny the allegations.

“The meeting focused on the law and order situation in Punjab and the security arrangements for Chinese nationals,” the provincial home department said in a statement issued after the Shiren-Qazi meeting.

One of the attacks included a bombing at the Karachi airport last October that killed two Chinese engineers returning to work at a power plant. Beijing has called on Islamabad to bolster security for its nationals in Pakistan in recent months.

Qazi assured Shiren that ensuring the safety of Chinese tourists and officials working on CPEC projects was a top priority, the home department said.

“We are committed to the security and facilitation of all Chinese nationals residing in Punjab,” he added. “The capacity of the Special Protection Unit is being enhanced to further strengthen security for Chinese citizens.”

Pakistan announced forming the special police unit last year to protect foreigners, particularly Chinese nationals, living in the country amid increasing attacks on Chinese citizens.

Qazi highlighted that foolproof security arrangements were in place across all industrial zones across the province. He said the federal government’s guidelines regarding the movement of Chinese nationals should be followed strictly.

“Our offices are always open to Chinese citizens and government representatives,” Qazi said.

Beijing has been pressing Pakistan in recent months to allow Chinese security personnel to protect the thousands of its citizens working there amid frustration over the attacks.

Thousands of Chinese officials live and work in Pakistan, where Beijing has invested in the multi-billion-dollar CPEC project. The CPEC is a network of roads, railways, and energy projects designed to link China’s Xinjiang province with Pakistan’s Gwadar port on the Arabian Sea.


Pakistan warns of fresh monsoon spell from Aug. 5 as rain death toll surges to 288

Updated 36 min 33 sec ago
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Pakistan warns of fresh monsoon spell from Aug. 5 as rain death toll surges to 288

  • Met department warns of flash floods in Dir, Swat, Shangla, Mansehra, Azad Kashmir and Galliyat regions
  • PMD warns river flows are likely to increase up to medium level due to upcoming monsoon rains in country

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Meteorological Department (PMD) warned on Wednesday that a fresh monsoon spell from August 5 onwards is likely to trigger heavy rains and flash floods in several parts of the country, as the death toll from rain-related incidents since June 26 surged to 288.

Torrential rains have continued to wreak havoc across Pakistan since late June, killing 288 people in total as per data shared by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA). The rains have killed 136 children in total and injured 691 people.

The Met Department also warned of flash floods in the northern regions’ local streams. These areas include Dir, Swat, Shangla, Mansehra, Kohistan, Abbottabad, Kohat, Karak, Hangu, Tank, Dera Ghazi Khan, Murree, Galliyat and Azad Kashmir.

“A fresh monsoon activity with isolated heavy falls is expected to start from Aug 5,” the PMD said in its daily weather report.

It warned that river flows are likely to increase up to the medium level under the influence of the upcoming monsoon spell.

Authorities in Punjab issued a flood alert on Wednesday, warning of rising water levels in the Chenab, Jhelum and Sutlej rivers, with possible urban flooding in Rawalpindi, Gujranwala and Lahore over the next 48 hours.

The provincial disaster management authority (PDMA) urged residents in low-lying or riverbank settlements to follow precautionary guidelines and cooperate with local officials during evacuations.

Pakistan, which ranks among the world’s most climate-vulnerable nations, has witnessed increasingly erratic weather events in recent years.

In May, at least 32 people were killed in severe storms, while a third of the country was submerged by devastating floods in 2022 that killed more than 1,700 people, affected over 30 million and caused an estimated $35 billion in damages.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has repeatedly directed authorities to intensify rescue operations in flood-affected areas of the country.


Pakistan central bank surprises by holding key rate steady at 11%

Updated 52 min 4 sec ago
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Pakistan central bank surprises by holding key rate steady at 11%

  • Decision comes as IMF slashes growth forecast to 3.6% for FY26, well below Pakistan’s target
  • The government says the economy has stabilized, but analysts warn growth remains fragile

KARACHI: Pakistan’s central bank left its key interest rate unchanged at 11% on Wednesday, saying the inflation outlook had worsened a little due to energy price fluctuations, surprising analysts who had expected another cut.

In a Reuters poll this week, all 15 analysts said they expected the SBP to ease, with nine forecasting a 50-basis-points cut, four predicting a deeper 100-basis-points reduction and two projecting a smaller 25-basis-points cut.

The decision came as Pakistan pushes reforms under a $7 billion IMF program and a contractionary budget to curb deficits.

In its Economic Outlook Update on Tuesday, the IMF cut its growth forecast for the fiscal year ending June 2026 to 3.6%, well below the government’s 4.2% target.

“The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) ... noted that the inflation outlook has somewhat worsened in the wake of higher than anticipated adjustment in energy prices, especially gas tariffs,” the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) said in a statement.

The panel also noted that the trade deficit was expected to widen further in the fiscal year ending June 2026 amid a pickup in economic activity and a slowdown in global trade.

“Given this macroeconomic outlook and the emerging risks, the MPC considered today’s decision as necessary to ensure price stability,” it said.

The SBP had held rates in June after a 100-basis-points cut in May that resumed easing following a March pause. Since June 2024, it has lowered its policy rate by 1,100 basis points from a record 22% as price pressures receded.

Headline inflation slowed to 3.2 % in June and is projected at 3.5%–4.5% in July, within the SBP’s 5.5%–7.5% target range for the fiscal year ending June 2026.

The government says the economy has stabilized, but analysts warn growth remains fragile and global commodity price swings could still add pressure on prices and external balances.


Pakistan, US navy ships hold joint drills in North Indian Ocean

Updated 30 July 2025
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Pakistan, US navy ships hold joint drills in North Indian Ocean

  • PNS Shamsheer and USS Fitzgerald conduct exercises to boost interoperability, maritime coordination
  • Drills follow Pakistan-India military standoff in May that raised regional security and maritime tensions

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Navy Ship (PNS) Shamsheer and United States Ship (USS) Fitzgerald conducted an exercise in the North Indian Ocean to enhance interoperability and strengthen maritime cooperation, the Pakistan Navy said on Wednesday.

The exercise follows a military stand-off between Pakistan and India in May, which also made the naval forces of the two countries adopt a hostile posture, though it did not lead to any exchange of fire at sea.

Pakistan and the US navies have a long history of joint maritime cooperation through drills, bilateral training missions and multinational operations like AMAN and CTF-150.

These engagements have focused on maritime security and coordinated responses to regional threats, reflecting a strategic partnership in maintaining stability in the Arabian Sea.

“PNS Shamsheer and USS Fitzgerald conducted a passage exercise in the North Indian Ocean, underscoring the maritime cooperation between the two navies,” the Pakistan Navy said in a post on X. 

“The exercise featured a series of professional naval engagements aimed at enhancing interoperability,” it added. “These interactions reaffirm the shared commitment of both navies to maritime security and regional stability.”

The PNS Shamsheer is a guided-missile frigate commissioned by the navy in December 2009.

It was built in China and has a strong track record in maritime security, participating in regional patrols, anti-piracy operations multinational exercises and bilateral drills.

The USS Fitzgerald is a guided-missile destroyer commissioned in October 1995 under the US Seventh Fleet.

The navy drill between Pakistan and the US comes at a time when the two countries are also in the process of rejuvenating their political and economic relationship.

The exercise is part of Pakistan’s broader strategy to strengthen naval partnerships and reinforce its presence in the region amid ongoing strategic rivalries.


UN credibility at stake over Palestine, Kashmir, says Pakistan speaker, as he backs multilateralism

Updated 30 July 2025
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UN credibility at stake over Palestine, Kashmir, says Pakistan speaker, as he backs multilateralism

  • Ayaz Sadiq was speaking at the 6th World Conference of Speakers of Parliament in Geneva
  • He warned the UN risked the fate of the League of Nations if multilateralism was undermined

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s National Assembly Speaker (NA) Sardar Ayaz Sadiq has warned that the credibility of the United Nations system is under threat, according to an official statement on Wednesday, as he called for a return to multilateralism to address long-standing conflicts in places like Palestine and Kashmir.

Speaking at the 6th World Conference of Speakers of Parliament in Geneva, Sadiq said the international system was being undermined by populism, unilateralism and the politicization of humanitarian principles.

He stressed the need for diplomacy and institutional reform to restore global trust in the system.

“The world has witnessed enough bloodshed,” Sadiq told parliamentary leaders from around the globe. “It is time for new thinking, time to embrace pluralism, time to respect diversity and time for a new beginning.”

Citing the UN Security Council’s failure to resolve protracted disputes around the world, he said peaceful conflict resolution must now be treated not only as a legal obligation, but a strategic imperative.

Coercion and unilateral action, he added, cannot deliver sustainable peace.

Sadiq evoked Geneva’s historic role as the heart of diplomacy, recalling that the city had been the birthplace and graveyard of the League of Nations.

He maintained today’s multilateral institutions risk a similar fate if they continue to be undermined by narrow nationalism and hegemonic politics.

The NA speaker praised the unanimous adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 2788, led by Pakistan during its recent presidency, which calls for strengthening global mechanisms for peaceful dispute settlement through mediation, arbitration, judicial action and diplomatic engagement.

Turning to the global economy, he said over 100 developing countries are facing debt distress or liquidity crises, highlighting what he described as systemic shortcomings in the international financial and trade architecture.

Sadiq called for urgent reforms to build a fairer, development-oriented global financial system that supports the Global South, enhances economic resilience and reduces inequality.

He also reiterated Pakistan’s longstanding call to reform and democratize the UN Security Council, making it more representative, accountable and transparent.

Only such reform, he added, can help restore trust in multilateralism and enable the global system to meet the challenges of the 21st century.