Sarah Sharif’s stepmother said that she and her husband are willing to cooperate with UK authorities in the investigation of the girl’s death and that they are being harassed by Pakistan’s police.
A video statement was sent to the BBC, in which Sarah’s father remained silent, but her stepmother, Beenish Batool claimed that the police were harassing the couple’s family, illegally detaining them, and raiding their house. The British publication stated that they were unable to verify the account.
In a two-minute 36-second-long video, Batool stated the reason behind their concealment being the fear that the Pakistani police will torture and kill them. However, the couple is willing to cooperate with UK police.
Responding to the allegations, Jhelum Police Chief Mehmood Bajwa told BBC that claims of harassment from family were false.
He added that if the family has any reservations with police they could go to court to seek protection.
Sarah Sharif’s body was found alone at home in Woking on August 10, on the earlier day her father, stepmother and other family members fled to Pakistan.
Urfan was seen in his native district of Jhelum after he arrived in the country but then he disappeared with the rest of the family members, Beinash, Faisal Malik and five children.
UK’s police claimed Mr Sharif made a 999 call from Pakistan leading them to Sara’s body, Shortly after landing in Islamabad.
However, in the last hearing, the court had been informed that pathologist Nathaniel Carey, who had done a post-mortem examination of Sarah, was unable to ascertain an actual cause of her death, but said it was likely to be ‘unnatural’.
