Sara Sharif's family 'flew to UK on £4,000 business class tickets' before arrest

15 September 2023 , 06:26

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Tributes left to the young girl at her home in Woking, Surrey (Image: SWNS)

Sara Sharif’s family reportedly flew back to the UK on £4,000 business class tickets before they were arrested for the 10 year old girl’s murder.

Sara’s dad Urfan Sharif, 41, was arrested along with his partner Beinash Batool, 29, and his brother Faisal Malik, 28, as they arrived into Gatwick Airport Wednesday night.

The trio had flown to Pakistan the day before Sara’s body was discovered at the family’s home in Woking on August 10 and police had wanted them for questioning. A post-mortem found that Sara had suffered “multiple and extensive injuries” over a “sustained and extended” period of time.

Last night they were arrested and charged with murder and causing or allowing the death of a child.

Sara's dad Urfan Sharif at Sialkot Airport on Wednesday morning

Beinash Batool at Sialkot Airport on Wednesday morning

The family are reportedly travelled in style back to the UK, with a relative paying out £4,000 to fly back to the UK. They were said to have flown economy from Sialkot, eastern Pakistan, on Wednesday morning, to Dubai. From there, they took a connecting business class flight to London.

Police are 'closing in' on dad of murdered Woking girl, 10, after he vanished

Burhan Ali from Bin Adam Travels told The Telegraph that at midday on Saturday a man in his mid-30s named Safeer Malik came into the office to buy tickets. He added: “He said he wanted three tickets for his brothers and sister-in-law. He offered [to] pay in Sterling but I said we only deal in Pakistani rupees so after half an hour he came with 1,500,000 RS (£4,000) and I booked the tickets.”

Faisal Malik at Sialkot Airport on Wednesday morning

The ten-year-old was found with 'extensive injuries' (PA)

The three were not formally arrested by Pakistan police, nor did they face an extradition process, but had voluntarily cooperated to fly back to the UK. All three were remanded in custody by Surrey Police to appear at Guildford Magistrates Court today.

Now, Surrey Police are working to secure the safe return of Sara’s five siblings, aged between one and 13, who were taken to Pakistan by the three adults. A Pakistan court has ruled the kids would be temporarily moved to a government childcare facility.

The force is working with Surrey County Council and international partners. Sara's grandfather Muhammad Sharif said he had been sheltering the children at his home. It is not clear where they will be sent.

Kieren Williams