In the recent High Court case of Re A (A Child) (Abduction from Pakistan) [2025] EWHC 2637 (Fam), Richard Barraclough KC and Rima Baruah acted on behalf of the father.

The case, heard by Mr Justice Harrison in July 2025, involved serious allegations of child abduction, domestic abuse and falsified evidence.

The proceedings concerned a seven-year-old girl, “A”, brought from Pakistan to the UK in May 2024.

Applications were made by the local authority for a care order and by the mother for A’s return to Pakistan under the court’s inherent jurisdiction.

The parents made serious allegations against one another, and the court was asked to determine complex factual disputes arising from events in both Pakistan and the United Kingdom.

The hearing extended over two weeks and required the judge to consider more than 2,000 pages of documentary and expert evidence, with a considerable number of witnesses with interpreters and cross cultural issues.

The case addressed fact-finding principles in family proceedings, the treatment of conflicting international evidence and the handling of allegations supported by digital and video material of uncertain provenance.

In his approved judgment, Mr Justice Harrison acknowledged the “helpful and skilful way in which this difficult case has been conducted”.

Please see attached full Judgment.