Mum of Sara Sharif slams 'lies' she fell down stairs and broke her neck

23 August 2023 , 10:43

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Police are investigating the death of little Sara Sharif (Image: PA)

The devastated mum of murdered Sara Sharif has slammed claims the youngster died falling down the stairs as lies.

Little Sara, aged 10, was found dead at her home in Woking, Surrey, after police were called from Pakistan by her father on August 10. Urfan Sharif, 41, his partner Beinash Batool, 29, and his 28-year-old brother Faisal Malik are thought to have travelled from the UK to Islamabad the day before - and are wanted for questioning.

Sara's exact cause of death remains unknown, but it's been reported Urfan's brother Imran Malik told Pakistani police that he'd been told through an intermediary she broke her neck after falling down the stairs. The sibling, who has not been charged or arrested, made the claim in a police interview after officers raided the Sharif family home in Jhelum – 84 miles south of Pakistan’s capital Islamabad.

Now mum Olga, 36, is desperately seeking answers amid concerns for Sara's teenage brother who is also believed to be in Pakistan. She told the Sun: “I don’t want to hear from his brother. I’ve never met that brother, even when I was in Pakistan. I don’t know him.

Police are searching for Urfan Sharif and Beinash Batool (AP)

"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. If he believes that is what happened then he could have been lied to by Urfan to try and win his family over.

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“His baseless version answers none of my questions. If there was an accident you don’t leave the country in secret. The only person I want answers from is Urfan. He has to be questioned about what’s happened to my daughter.

“I need to know why she was left in that house whilst everyone else flew out of the country after she was already dead. I will never have closure until I know what has happened and why it happened to my girl."

Post-mortem tests have not been able to determine "bubbly" Sara's cause of death but did reveal she had suffered “multiple and extensive injuries”. Police added the injuries were “likely to have been caused over a sustained and extended period of time".

Olga, originally from Poland but lives in Yeovil, Somerset, added she also feared for the safety of Sara’s 13-year-old brother, who was one of five children taken to Pakistan by Urfan, 41, Sara's stepmother Beinash Batool, 29, and brother Faisal Sharif, 28. All three are being hunted by Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency.

“I don’t know when I’m going to see my son again," Olga added. “I have no idea if my child is safe. It’s the worst feeling in the world, especially after what happened to Sara. I worry about him every day because he is in a country he doesn’t know very well. He has been taken thousands of miles away very quickly with no warning.”

Pakistani officials said they were under “tremendous pressure” from the British High Commission to find the wanted family members. Investigator Malik Imran said: “The British High Commission in Islamabad is pressuring us to find Urfan immediately, or they will send their own investigators.”

Surrey Police continue to appeal for information, with a spokesperson adding: "No piece of information is insignificant, so if you can help, please contact us. If you would like to stay anonymous, you can report information to Crimestoppers."

Hannah Kane