In a significant development in the tragic case of 10-year-old Sara Sharif, who was found dead in her family home in Woking, Surrey, on August 10, authorities in Pakistan have detained several close relatives of Sara’s father, Urfan Sharif, for questioning. This marks a crucial step in the ongoing investigation into the circumstances surrounding Sara’s death.
Urfan Sharif, aged 41, and his partner Beinash Batool, aged 29, had fled the United Kingdom for Pakistan after Sara was discovered lifeless and alone in their Woking residence. A post-mortem examination revealed that the young girl had endured “multiple and extensive injuries” over a “sustained and extended” period, intensifying the gravity of the case.
A police spokesperson in Jehlum, situated 108 miles northwest of Lahore, confirmed that Urfan Sharif and Beinash Batool were in hiding, prompting the detention of 10 close relatives for questioning as part of the investigation. Among those held are Mohammad Sharif, Urfan’s father, his brothers, and cousins.
It is not uncommon for Pakistani law enforcement to detain close relatives of wanted suspects, although they are typically not incarcerated to avoid the intervention of a court.
On Wednesday, Beinash Batool, Sara’s stepmother, made her first public statement since the discovery of the young girl’s body. In a video clip posted online by Sky, Batool displayed no visible emotion as she referred to Sara’s death as “an incident” and expressed her and Urfan’s willingness to cooperate with UK authorities regarding the case.
Urfan Sharif and Beinash Batool departed the United Kingdom with their five children, aged between one and 13, and Surrey Police are actively seeking to question them in connection with Sara’s tragic death.
Sara’s mother, Olga Sharif, provided insight into the heart-wrenching ordeal of viewing her daughter’s body during an interview on the Polish television program Uwaga!. She recounted the distressing sight of Sara’s injuries, expressing her enduring grief.
The case has also seen statements from Sara’s grandfather, Muhammad Sharif, who believes that his son fled the UK out of fear. He emphasised that the three family members who left for Pakistan would ultimately return to face police questioning.
Surrey Police continue to appeal for information that could shed light on Sara’s life and the events leading up to her untimely and tragic demise.
