Three adults who police want to speak to over the death of 10-year-old Sara Sharif are returning to the UK from Pakistan.
Sara’s father, Urfan Sharif, 41, along with his wife Beinash Batool, 29, and his brother, Faisal Malik, have been identified by police as people they want to speak to as part of their investigation.
Sharif traveled to Islamabad, Pakistan’s capital, with Batool and Malik on August 9, bringing Sara’s five siblings with them.
The 10-year-old was found dead at her home in Woking, Surrey, last month, sparking a murder investigation.
A post-mortem examination earlier this week found she had suffered ‘extensive injuries’ suffered over a ‘sustained and extended period of time’.
Sialkot police spokesperson Khan Mudassir said 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.
She was living with her father, Urfan Sharif, 41 and his partner, Beinash Batool, 29, who reportedly left the UK along with Mr Sharif’s brother, Faisal Malik, the day before her body was found.
The exact nature of Sara’s injuries have not been fully disclosed, though Sara’s mum, Olga, described severe bruising and swelling on her daughter’s face when she went to identify her.
Speaking to Polish broadcaster TVN on Wednesday, Sara’s grandmother, Sylwia Kurz, said: ‘It wasn’t Sara [anymore], she was entirely changed and bruised.
‘If someone hadn’t told me it was Sara, I would have never believed it.’
Sara and her brother lived with their mother from 2015 to 2019, when a family court ruled they should live with Mr Sharif.
Olga told TVN: ‘One of her cheeks was swollen and the other side was bruised.
‘Even now, when I close my eyes I can see what my baby looked like.’
Sara’s mum had equal rights to spend time with her kids but said it became harder to maintain contact over time.
In a video shared with Sky News, Sara’s step-mum, Ms Batool 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.’
Surrey Police have expressed concern over the ‘welfare’ of ‘five children who travelled to Pakistan on August 9’, believed to be a group of youngsters aged between one and 13 years old who travelled with Mr Sharif and Ms Batool.
MORE : Five children taken from UK by Sara Sharif’s dad temporarily taken into care
MORE : Friend of Sara Sharif’s parents allegedly urged them to flee UK after her death
MORE : Sara Sharif’s grandfather and uncles detained by police in Pakistan
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