LONDON — Mahek Bukhari, a British-Pakistani TikTok influencer convicted in a high-profile double murder case, has appealed to the UK Court of Appeal, claiming her 31-year minimum sentence is “wholly disproportionate” given the circumstances surrounding the crime.
Now 24, Mahek was sentenced to life imprisonment for orchestrating the murders of Saqib Hussain and Hashim Ijazuddin, who died in a fiery car crash in February 2022 during a high-speed chase in Leicestershire. Her mother, Ansreen Bukhari, was also convicted and handed a minimum sentence of 26 years for her involvement.
Affair, Blackmail, and a Deadly Ambush
The case gained widespread attention due to its shocking mix of social media fame, a secret affair, and a deadly plot.
The killings were linked to an affair between 46-year-old Ansreen and 21-year-old Saqib Hussain, who had reportedly threatened to expose explicit material unless she paid him £3,000. Prosecutors said the Bukharis lured Hussain and his friend Ijazuddin to a Tesco car park in Leicester, supposedly to resolve the matter.
However, once there, the men were ambushed and chased down the A46 by two cars — a Seat Leon and an Audi TT — driven by the Bukharis’ associates. The pursuit reached speeds of 100 mph before the victims’ car was rammed off the road and burst into flames, killing both men.
Multiple Convictions in the Case
In addition to Mahek and Ansreen Bukhari, four men were convicted:
-
Rekan Karwan and Raees Jamal – convicted of murder
-
Ameer Jamal, Sanaf Gulamustafa, and Natasha Akhtar – convicted of manslaughter
Defense: “Not Cold-Blooded” Murder
Mahek’s legal team, led by Christopher Millington KC, argued during the appeal hearing that the original sentence failed to consider the emotional distress and blackmail that drove the events.
“The threats made by Hussain were part of a long campaign of intimidation,” Millington said.
“The murder was committed in the heat of the moment, not a calculated, cold-blooded act.”
He highlighted Mahek’s young age, immaturity, and lack of criminal history, claiming these mitigating factors were not fully accounted for during sentencing.
Prosecution: No Justification for Murder
Representing the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), Collingwood Thompson KC acknowledged that Hussain’s threats were real but said that they did not justify murder.
“They had the option to go to the police. Had they done so, none of this tragedy would have occurred,” Thompson told the court.
Appeal Decision Pending
The appeal was heard by Lord Justice Warby, Mr Justice Lavender, and Judge Sylvia De Bertodano, who confirmed that a written judgment would be delivered at a later date.
