5 unanswered questions over Sara Sharif’s ‘murder’ amid claims girl, 10, had ‘cuts and bruises’ before death
TEN-year-old Sara Sharif was found dead and alone at her father’s Surrey home on August 10.
The little girl had “sustained injuries” inside the £500,000 property in Horsell, near Woking, when discovered by police at around 2.50am.
The grim discovery came as police received a 999 call from her father Urfan Sharif, 41, in Pakistan, saying he was concerned for her safety.
It is believed he, Sara’s stepmother Beinash Batool, 29, and brother Faisal Malik, 28, fled with five kids, including Sara’s brother, 13, to Islamabad on August 9.
An international hunt is now underway for the three adults as Sara’s heartbroken mum Olga Sharif demanded Urfan hand himself in.
But five key questions remain following Sara’s death.
The stairs
Urfan’s brother Imran Sharif allegedly told police Sara died after breaking her neck following a fall down a flight of stairs.
Imran – held following a raid at the Sharif family home in Jhelum, Pakistan – also claimed he hasn’t seen his brother Urfan.
The brother has not been charged or arrested in connection with Sara’s death.
But the claims the 10-year-old died following a fall were branded “lies” by Sara’s heartbroken Polish mum Olga Sharif.
Speaking to The Sun from her home in Yeovil, Somerset, she said: “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.
“If he believes that is what happened then he could have been lied to by Urfan to try and win his family over.”
Where is the dad?
A travel agent in Surrey claims someone known to Sara paid £5,100 for eight one-way tickets to Pakistan’s capital Islamabad for August 9.
Nadeem Riaz, the travel agent that sold the tickets, told Sky News: “Urfan said he wanted to book a ticket to Pakistan. He said his cousin passed away.”
Mr Sharif sent these to Mr Riaz on WhatsApp, followed by a text that read: “As soon as possible.”
It was on August 10 when police received a call from Sara’s dad Urfan from Pakistan, expressing concern for his eldest daughter’s safety.
Urfan, along with the other two adults and kids, are still being hunted by Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency.
UK authorities may face an uphill battle to get the group – all known to Sara – back to Britain.
This is because the UK does not have a formal extradition treaty with Pakistan, making it difficult to get the runaways back for questioning.
But broken Olga warned fugitive dad Urfan Sharif he “couldn’t hide away forever” – as she demanded he also hand back her teenage son over fears for his safety.
Who wrote the note?
Cops are understood to have found a handwritten note inside the Horsell home where Sara was found dead.
The Mail said it read: “Who ever sees this, it was XXXX who killed… (Sara)… by beating. I am running away because I am scared.”
It was said to be scrawled by a family member, scribbled in large letters on lined paper.
The alleged memo was reportedly thought to be left for police to find.
Sara’s mum Olga Sharif had no prior knowledge of the note, The Sun understands.
Cuts and bruises
Sara had “sustained injuries” when her body was found inside her Horsell home.
And a post-mortem revealed that Sara suffered “multiple and extensive injuries which are likely to have been caused over a sustained and extended period of time”.
It comes as a neighbour claimed Sara “never smiled or laughed with dad”.
Dept Supt Mark Chapman said: “While the post-mortem has not provided us with an established cause of death at this time, we now know that Sara had suffered multiple and extensive injuries over a sustained and extended period.
“This has significantly changed the nature of our investigation, and we have widened the timescale of the focus of our enquiry.
“As a result, we are trying to piece together a picture of Sara’s lifestyle but we cannot do this without the public’s help.”
Police contact before death
Surrey Police have revealed they had “historic” contact with Sara’s family.
The force refused to elaborate on the nature of the contact when approached by The Sun.
But they stressed communication with the family “goes back some time”.
Det Supt Chapman told the BBC: “Surrey Police’s contact with the family has been on a limited basis.
“It’s been on a historic basis. And that goes back some time.”