Three members of 10-year-old Sara Sharif’s family, who are wanted in connection with her death, have arrived back in the UK on a flight from Pakistan.
Urfan Sharif, the father of Sara Sharif, his partner Beinash Batool and brother Faisal Malik have been arrested on suspicion of murder in connection with the 10-year-old’s death, Surrey Police said.
The trio arrived at London’s Gatwick airport on Wednesday evening after negotiations with the police and British authorities in Pakistan, the Guardian reported earlier today.
Sara was found dead at her home in Woking, Surrey, last month.
Although her exact cause of death has not yet been determined, a post-mortem examination revealed she had suffered ‘extensive injuries’ suffered over a ‘sustained and extended period of time’ and police are treating her death as a murder investigation.
Police were informed of her death after Urfan contacted authorities in the UK after fleeing to Pakistan with his wife, brother and five children.
Earlier today, a Sialkot police spokesperson Khan Mudassir revealed that three people had been arrested and flown to the UK, the Associated Press reported.
He said the three were handed over to the Federal Investigation Agency, which flew them to Britain from Sialkot in eastern Punjab province.
The trio will now be questioned by police over the circumstances surrounding Sara’s death.
Last week, Sky News shared a video of Sara’s step-mother, Ms Batool, who said her side of the family is willing to cooperate with British police and ‘fight our case in court’.
She could be heard to say: ‘Firstly, I would like to talk about Sara. Sara’s death was an incident. Our family in Pakistan are severely affected by all that is going on.
‘All the media have been giving wrong statements and making up lies.
‘All of our family members have gone into hiding as everyone is scared for their safety.
‘The groceries have run out and there is no food for the kids as the adults are unable to leave their homes out of fear for safety.’
The five children, aged between one and 13, were believed to have been travelling with the trio, but were later revealed to have been staying with their grandfather Muhammad Sharif at his home in Jhelum.
They were found after a police raid and have since been taken into care in Pakistan.
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