LONDON: The grandfather of Sara Sharif, the 10-year-old found dead in her family home in Woking, Surrey, has said that his son told him the girl’s death was an accident.

Speaking to BBC News, Muhammad Sharif, the father of Urfan Sharif, Sara’s father, said: “It was an accident, he didn’t tell me how it happened,” adding that Urfan had left the UK out of fear.

Muhammad said he did see Urfan in Pakistan when his son came to Jhelum. When asked by the BBC reporter why Urfan came to Pakistan if the death was an accident, Muhammad replied: “Because of fear.”

“His daughter died and when you go under so much trauma, obviously you can’t think properly.”

He also appealed to his son to return to the UK and defend his case.

Urfan, his brother Faisal Malik, Beenish and five children flew from the UK to Pakistan a day after Sara died. Police believe the trio left the country on Aug 9, a day before Sara’s body was discovered, and that they spent up to 5,000 pounds on one-way tickets to Pakistan for three adults and five children.

The statement of Sara’s grandfather echoes the claim made by an uncle of hers, Imran Sharif, who was also in police custody.

Imran had earlier told police in Pakistan that the family line is that Sara fell at home. He is alleged to have told officers: “Beenish was home with the children. Sara fell down the stairs and broke her neck. Beenish panicked and phoned Urfan.”

However, Surrey Police said a post-mortem examination revealed Sara “suffered multiple and extensive injuries”, which they said were “likely to have been caused over a sustained and extended period of time”.

She was previously known to authorities, according to Surrey County Council, while Surrey Police said they had ‘limited and historic contact’ with Sara’s family. Urfan Sharif called 999 from Pakistan on the day his daughter’s body was found, expressing concern for her safety, according to officers.

A manhunt is still under way in Pakistan for Urfan, his wife Beenish and five children.

The body of Sara Sharif, daughter of Olga Sharif and 31-year-old Malik Urfan Sharif, was found in a Woking council house, in the early hours of Aug 10. Police said no other people were found at the property when the body was discovered. The discovery of the minor’s body prompted a murder investigation.

Ms Olga and Mr Sharif are no longer married, and media reports indicated that Mr Sharif has full custody.

Ms Olga said she was on her way to Poland when authorities called to say, “You need to come to England and come to the police station in Dover”.

Just weeks after her body was discovered, a neighbour, who identified herself as Jessica revealed that, according to her daughter, Sara had gone to St Mary’s primary school in Byfleet with visible injuries in April.

Sara’s family then mov­ed to Woking and was not seen at the school again.

Another neighbour claimed that Beenish, the stepmother, had said the girl was being homeschooled after being bullied for wearing a hijab.

“I suggested to Beenish that Sara needed to be with children her own age,” said the neighbour. “She replied that she was making friends at the mosque and in her swimming lessons.

Published in Dawn, September 6th, 2023