"Sara fell down the stairs and broke her neck."
According to police in Pakistan, the uncle of Sara Sharif told officers she “fell down the stairs and broke her neck”.
The 10-year-old was found dead at her home in Woking after police were called from Pakistan by her father on August 10, 2023.
Sara’s father Urfan Sharif, his partner Beinash Batool and his brother Faisal Malik were identified in connection with her murder.
Sara’s exact cause of death remains unknown but Surrey Police said a post-mortem examination revealed she “suffered multiple and extensive injuries”, which they said were “likely to have been caused over a sustained and extended period of time”.
Surrey County Council said Sara was previously known to authorities.
Pakistani police are seeking to arrest Urfan Sharif, who travelled to the country with Ms Batool and Mr Malik as well as five children aged between one and 13 years old.
It is believed Urfan briefly returned to his family home in Jhelum, Punjab.
His brother Imran Sharif is currently held in police custody for questioning but Jhelum police said he has not been charged and is not under arrest.
Imran denied knowing where Urfan and his family were.
He told police: “I found out what happened to Sara through the international media.
“My parents told me Urfan briefly came home very upset. He kept saying ‘they’ are going to take his children away from him.”
An officer said “they” referred to British authorities.
Police say Imran claimed that Sara died due to a fatal fall at home.
He allegedly told officers:
“Beinash was home with the children. Sara fell down the stairs and broke her neck. Beinash panicked and phoned Urfan.”
Ms Batool’s family home in Mirpur was searched but the family of eight was nowhere to be seen.
They added that Urfan’s parents are distressed and that his father’s “heart condition” is worsening from “stress”.
Sara Sharif was a Year 5 pupil at St Mary’s C of E primary school and headteacher Jacquie Chambers said in a statement:
“She [Sara] was a bubbly, confident little girl who had the most beautiful smile. She was full of ideas and was very passionate about the things she believed in.
“Sara will be dearly missed and, as a school community, we are all deeply affected by this tragedy.”
“Our thoughts, prayers and sympathy are with those affected by this heartbreaking news.
“As there is an ongoing police investigation it would be inappropriate to comment further but we can confirm we are fully supporting partner agencies with their investigations.
“Our priority now is to support our school community as they grieve and recover.”
Meanwhile, Surrey Police are continuing to appeal for information about Sara’s death and they would like to speak to anyone who knew the girl or her family.
Sara’s mother Olga Sharif blasted Imran’s claims and said:
“If there was an accident you don’t leave the country in secret.
“He could have just made that claim to protect his brother and try to stop questions being asked.
“I don’t think he is being honest.”
She claimed Urfan could have “lied” to his brother about what happened, adding:
“The only person I want answers from is Urfan. He has to be questioned about what’s happened to my daughter.”
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