Beenish Batool, the stepmother of the 10-year-old girl discovered deceased in their Woking residence last month, shared a video message. It is the first public statement from the deceased child’s immediate family. In the video, Sara’s stepmother is joined by her father, Urfan Sharif.
Ms. Batool stated that they are prepared to cooperate with UK authorities. She mentioned that their family is currently in hiding due to apprehensions of mistreatment by Pakistani law enforcement.
Reading from a notebook, she characterizes Sara’s death as an “incident”. Ms. Batool alleges that Pakistani police have been subjecting their extended family to harassment, unlawful detentions, and raids.
She briefly mentioned Sara, saying, “Firstly, I would like to talk about Sara. Sara’s death was an incident. Our family in Pakistan is severely affected by all that is going on.” She also expressed concern for Imran, one of Mr. Sharif’s brothers, and refuted claims made by Pakistani media outlets regarding the circumstances of Sara’s death.
Ms. Batool claimed that their family is running out of food and cannot leave their homes due to safety concerns, especially for the children. She said that the family is hiding due to the fear of torture and harm by Pakistani police.
However, Jhelum police chief Mehmood Bajwa refuted the allegations of harassment and torture, labeling them as false.
Last month, Urfan Sharif’s father filed a petition with the Rawalpindi bench of the Lahore High Court concerning the harassment of family members. The court prohibited further detention by the police but allowed continued questioning.
Conflicting Accounts
Sara’s mother, Olga, in an interview with a Polish channel, described the severe injuries the girl had sustained, making her unrecognizable in the mortuary. She mentioned facial swelling and bruising.
Sara Sharif’s grandfather and uncle previously suggested that her death was accidental, with one account suggesting a fall down the stairs resulting in a broken neck.
Urfan, his brother Faisal Malik, Beenish, and five children left the UK for Pakistan a day after Sara’s death. Police believe they departed on August 9, one day before discovering Sara’s body.
Surrey Police disclosed that a post-mortem examination showed Sara had suffered multiple and extensive injuries, likely occurring over an extended period. Surrey County Council noted previous involvement with Sara, while Surrey Police mentioned limited and historic interactions with Sara’s family.
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