All unanswered questions looming over Sara Sharif murder probe as arrests made

23 August 2023 , 11:50

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Sara Sharif was found dead at her home on August 10 (Image: AP)

Schoolgirl Sara Sharif was found dead at her Surrey home nearly two weeks ago - with police launching a murder inquiry which has extended to an international manhunt.

Officers responded to a concern for welfare at the address in Hammond Road, Woking, in the early hours of August 10 before discovering the 10-year-old's body. Officers in Pakistan have quizzed one of Sara's uncles - Imran Sharif - because they suspect he knows where her father, stepmother and another uncle, all wanted over her murder, are hiding. Dad Urfan Sharif, 41, his partner, Beinash Batool, 29, and his brother, Faisal Malik, 28, are thought to have travelled to Islamabad, Pakistan, on August 9 and are wanted for questioning.

A post-mortem examination showed Sara had suffered extensive injuries over a sustained period before she was found. Surrey County Council say she was known to the local authority before her death. Leader Tim Oliver said his colleagues are "working tirelessly with our safeguarding partners to gain a full understanding of the situation as quickly as possible".

Exact cause of death

Sara's cause of death is not clear

Sara’s exact cause of death remains shrouded in uncertainty. The post-mortem examination conducted by Surrey Police revealed that Sara had sustained multiple and extensive injuries. These injuries are believed to have been inflicted over a sustained period of time, raising concerns about the circumstances surrounding her demise.

Her uncle Imran Sharif allegedly told police in Pakistan he had heard via an intermediary she “fell down the stairs and broke her neck”. It's understood he is not under arrest and has not been charged. Sky News reported he told officers he did not know of his brother’s whereabouts, and that he told them: “I found out what happened to Sara through the international media.

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"My parents told me Urfan briefly came home very upset. He kept saying ‘they’ are going to take his children away from him.” He is also alleged to have said he was told: “Beinash was home with the children. Sara fell down the stairs and broke her neck. Beinash panicked and phoned Urfan."

Why was council aware of Sara?

Flowers and police outside Sara's home (SWNS)

Surrey County Council leader Tim Oliver said on Sunday: "We can confirm Sara Sharif was known to Surrey County Council but we cannot comment further while the Surrey Safeguarding Children Partnership's thorough review process is ongoing."

He'd previously said: "This is an incredibly sad situation and our thoughts and deepest condolences are with everyone affected." He explained the national Child Safeguarding panel has been notified of the death and a multi-agency rapid review is under way, in line with standard process following the death of a child.

He explained: "This rapid review will determine whether a local child safeguarding practice review (LCSPR) is to be undertaken by the Surrey Safeguarding Children Partnership. An LCSPR is a statutory process, bringing together partners including the police, health, social care and education to review practice of all agencies involved, organisational structures and learning."

Have arrest warrants or extradition requests been issued?

Urfan Sharif (PA)

Beinash Batool (PA)

The schoolgirl's father, stepmother and uncle, as well as five siblings, are alleged to have fled the UK for Pakistan on August 9 - the day before she was found dead. Police in Pakistan have taken a different uncle in for questioning, but it's understood he is not under arrest and has not been charged.

Surrey Police have not confirmed if arrest warrants have been issued, though police in Pakistan did claim previously they have been asked to make arrests if the family are found. The UK force said it was working with international agencies, including Interpol, the National Crime Agency and the U.K. Foreign Office to progress their enquiries with Pakistani authorities.

A Home Office spokesperson said: "As a matter of long-standing policy and practice, we neither confirm nor deny the existence of extradition requests." There is no formal extradition treaty between the UK and Pakistan but people have been returned from the Asian country before.

Edward Grange, a partner at law firm Corker Binning, said arrest warrants would first need to be issued in the UK. He suggested a memorandum of understanding would also need to be agreed between the two countries. He said it would likely be a "slower process" than if a treaty were in place.

Why did dad call police from Pakistan?

police in Pakistan have arrested Imran Sharif (pictured), an uncle of Sara Sharif, because they suspect he knows where her father, stepmother and another uncle, all wanted over her murder, are hiding link:https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12432635/Pakistan-police-arrest-Sara-Sharifs-uncle-suspicion-knows-murdered-girls-family-hiding-fleeing-Britain.html (tiktok)

Police were alerted to Sara's address after her dad contacted them from Pakistan, Surrey Police have said. Officers in the Asian country are hoping to track down Mr Sharif and other family members who are thought to have fled the UK the day before the schoolgirl's body was found.

Ryan Merrifield