ISLAMABAD: Incarcerated Urfan Sharif, who was jailed last month for the murder of his 10-year-old daughter Sara Sharif in the United Kingdom, has been attacked at Belmarsh prison in southeast London, British media reported on Friday.
Sara was found dead in August 2023 at her home in Woking, a town southwest of London, after what prosecutors said was a campaign of “serious and repeated violence.” She suffered injuries including burns, multiple broken bones and bite marks.
Sharif and Sara’s stepmother fled to Pakistan immediately after the 10-year-old’s murder, before being arrested in September 2023 at London’s Gatwick airport after flying in from Dubai.
The 43-year-old father is understood to have suffered slashes to his face and body that require stitches, British broadcaster Sky News reported.
“Police are investigating an assault on a prisoner at HMP [His Majesty’s Prison] Belmarsh on 1 January,” Sky News quoted a prison service spokesperson as saying.
“It would be inappropriate to comment further while they investigate.”
The 43-year-old suffered “non-life-threatening injuries,” a Metropolitan Police spokesman told the broadcaster.
Sharif, his 30-year-old wife, Beinash Batool, who was Sara’s stepmother, were respectively jailed in Dec. for 40 and 33 years for years of horrific “torture” and “despicable” abuse that culminated in the 10-year-old’s murder.
Sara’s uncle, Faisal Malik, 29, was found not guilty of murder, but guilty of causing or allowing her death and awarded 16 years in prison.
Father of murdered 10-year-old Sara Sharif attacked in UK prison — report
https://arab.news/jbe55
Father of murdered 10-year-old Sara Sharif attacked in UK prison — report
- Urfan Sharif suffered slashes to his face and body which are ‘non-life threatening,’ police say
- Sharif, Sara’s stepmother Beinash Batool were jailed for 40 and 33 years for killing 10-year-old
Pakistan IT minister in Kuwait to attend digital cooperation body meeting on AI risks
- Shaza Fatima Khawaja to attend event themed ‘Inclusive Prosperity in the Age of AI’
- Pakistan approved National AI Policy last year, launched first locally hosted AI cloud
KARACHI: Pakistan’s Information Technology (IT) Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja on Wednesday arrived in Kuwait on a two-day visit to hold discussions on artificial intelligence (AI) and its risks at the fifth Digital Cooperation Organization General Assembly (DCOGA), her office said.
The annual gathering brings together representatives of various states and international organizations to discuss the digital economy and the challenges associated with its growth. This year’s theme is “Inclusive Prosperity in the Age of AI.”
Pakistan has been actively developing its AI landscape, marked by the approval of the National AI Policy in July last year and the subsequent launch of its first locally hosted AI cloud in a bid to integrate AI for economic growth.
“The federal minister will participate in the General Assembly of the Digital Cooperation Organization (DCO) and hold meetings with representatives of member states,” the IT ministry said in a statement on Wednesday.
“Discussions will be held on artificial intelligence and its risks, with meetings scheduled with global policymakers.”
Khawaja will hold high-level meetings with global leaders at the event and participate in the DCO thematic ministerial roundtable comprising ministers from various countries, it added.
The development comes as Pakistan seeks to position itself as a credible participant in the global AI economy to harness AI for productivity, skills development and innovation while managing regulatory risks.
Pakistan has mainly been engaging with Gulf countries on AI. In October last year, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced that Saudi Arabia has offered free training in IT and AI for Pakistani youth. Last November, Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates agreed to deepen cooperation in AI, digital governance and data innovation.
Pakistan is also hosting a week-long national AI initiative, “AI Indus Week 2026,” from Feb. 9-15 to promote the responsible use of technology and accelerate the adoption of AI across the public and private sectors.
