Relatives of Sara Sharif's father detained in Pakistan
A post-mortem examination found she had suffered "multiple and extensive injuries" over a "sustained and extended" period of time.
Last updated 9th Sep 2023
Relatives of Sara Sharif's father are being questioned by police in Pakistan.
The ten year old was found dead and alone at the family home in Woking, Surrey, on August 10. Her father Urfan Sharif, 41, and his partner Beinash Batool, 29, fled the UK for Pakistan after the incident and are currently wanted by Surrey Police.
A post-mortem examination found she had suffered "multiple and extensive injuries" over a "sustained and extended" period of time.
A police spokesman in Jehlum, 108 miles north-west of Lahore, said Sharif and his wife Batool were in hiding and 10 close relatives have been taken into custody for questioning and an investigation.
Among those detained include Mohammad Sharif, the father of Urfan, his brothers and cousins, the spokesman said.
Police in Pakistan often detain the close relatives of wanted suspects. However, they are not kept in jail to avoid the intervention of a court.
Sharif and Batool left Britain with five children aged between one and 13, and Surrey Police want to question them over Sara's death.
Sara's mother Olga Sharif gave an interview to the Polish television programme Uwaga! in which she spoke of the harrowing experience of going to view her daughter's body.
She said: "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."
Ms Sharif separated from her husband in 2015 and Sara and her older brother had been living with her until 2019, when the family court ruled they should live with their father.
Surrey Police are still appealing for information to get a better picture of Sara's life.