Surrey Authorities Were Familiar with Ten-Year-Old Sara Sharif Prior to Her Tragic Demise

Surrey Authorities Were Familiar with Ten-Year-Old Sara Sharif Prior to Her Tragic Demise

A 10-year-old girl whose death sparked an international ‌manhunt was previously known to the authorities,⁢ Surrey county council has confirmed.

Sara Sharif was found dead at‍ her home near Woking on⁤ 10 August having suffered ⁤multiple and extensive injuries, which Surrey police said were likely ‍to have been caused “over⁤ a sustained⁣ and⁢ extended period⁤ of time”.

The force has⁢ confirmed it wants ⁤to speak to Sara’s father, Urfan⁢ Sharif, 41, as well as his​ partner, Beinash Batool, 29, and brother, Faisal Malik, 28.

On Friday, the council said the National Child Safeguarding Panel had been notified of the ​death and a multi-agency⁤ rapid review ⁣was ‍under way.

“We are⁣ working tirelessly with our safeguarding partners to gain a full understanding of the​ situation as quickly‌ as possible,” said council leader ⁣Tim Oliver in a statement.

“This is⁣ an incredibly sad situation, and our⁤ thoughts and deepest condolences are ⁣with everyone affected.”

In a further statement on Sunday, a spokesperson⁢ confirmed the girl was “known to” the council. They added that it could not comment further during the review process.

The ⁢rapid review will determine whether a local child safeguarding practice review should take place.

In such a case, organisations including the police, council and an NHS clinical commissioning group would review the practice‍ of the agencies ⁣involved in the case.

Officers⁢ have said Urfan Sharif travelled to Islamabad in Pakistan‍ with ⁢Batool and Malik⁤ on 9 August –‍ the‌ day before Sara’s body ⁣was discovered.

BBC News said it ​had spoken to a travel⁢ agent in⁤ Woking who said he was contacted by Sharif⁤ at about 10pm ⁤on 8 August, asking to‍ book tickets to the country as soon as possible.

Surrey police have previously‌ said Sharif made a 999 call ‌from Pakistan ⁣shortly after landing.

The group had five children with them, ranging from the age‌ of‍ one to 13. Sharif’s family home is in Jhelum,​ Punjab, about 135km ‌(84 miles) from⁤ the‍ capital.

According to the Associated Press, Pakistani police in the eastern​ province⁤ are seeking to arrest Sharif in connection ‍with his daughter’s death.

Officer‍ Imran Ahmed reportedly told the news agency that police‌ had ‍found evidence ⁣he had briefly returned to Jhelum before⁢ disappearing.

Surrey police said ‍it was working with international agencies, including ​Interpol, the National Crime Agency ​and ⁢the UK Foreign Office, to carry out⁤ their investigation and liaise with Pakistani‌ authorities.

The UK does not have a‌ formal extradition treaty with Pakistan, but people have been ​extradited before.

A postmortem ⁢examination earlier this week did not⁢ establish Sara’s cause of death, the force⁤ said, but it did⁢ show Sara had suffered multiple and extensive injuries likely ⁤sustained over an‌ extended period ⁢of time.

On Friday, Det Supt Mark Chapman, from ⁢its major crime team, said Sara’s injuries had “significantly changed the nature of our‍ investigation, and we have ⁤widened the⁣ timescale and focus of ‌our inquiry”.

Sara’s…

2023-08-20 14:43:28
Source from www.theguardian.com

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