The stepmother of a girl found dead at her home in Surrey has spoken out for the first time as her family hides out in Pakistan.
In a video sent to broadcasters including the BBC and Sky, Beinash Batool spoke alongside Sara’s father, Urfan Sharif.
She denied media reports that Mr Sharif’s brother Imran said Sara fell down the stairs and claims the family has “gone into hiding”.
“Firstly, I would like to talk about Sara. Sara’s death was an incident. Our family in Pakistan are severely affected by all that is going on,” Ms Batool said.
(Handout)
The majority of the 2 minute and 36 second-long video filmed by Mr Sharif and Ms Batool consists of allegations that the Pakistan police are harassing the couple’s extended family, illegally detaining them and raiding their homes.
Police want to speak to Sara’s father Urfan Sharif, 41, his partner Beinash Batool, 29, and his brother Faisal Shahzad Malik, 28, who are all believed to have travelled from the UK to Pakistan the day before the girl’s body was found at her home in Woking.
An inquest held last month heard the precise cause of death was “not yet ascertained” but was likely to be “unnatural”.
Post-mortem tests found Sara sustained “multiple and extensive injuries”.
