Surrey County Council withdraws from legal proceedings aimed at bringing Sara Sharif’s five siblings back to the UK, according to reports from the BBC and other outlets. The children have been living with their paternal grandfather in Jhelum, Pakistan, since October 2023. The family members are described as being in school in Pakistan, with the youngest reported as not attending. The BBC reports that the council withdraws from the case, while other coverage says the council indicates it has no choice but to step away from the proceedings to secure the children’s return.
The articles agree that the children’s residence in Pakistan has continued for many months and that the council’s action affects attempts to relocate them. Details about the legal reasons for the withdrawal, or any alternative arrangements, are not described in the provided excerpts. The reports therefore focus on the change in approach by the local authority and the ongoing placement of the siblings with their father’s father in Pakistan.
