London: In a significant development in the case of Sara Sharif, the 10-year-old girl found dead in the UK, authorities have located her five siblings in Pakistan.
These children, who had been taken to Pakistan by their fugitive father and stepmother, were discovered at their grandfather's residence in the city of Jhelum, according to statements from local police.
Sara Sharif's tragic story unfolded when she was found dead at her family home in Surrey on August 10. The discovery came one day after her father, Urfan Sharif, stepmother Beinash Batool, and uncle Faisal Malik abruptly fled to Pakistan, where they have remained on the run since.
The breakthrough in the case occurred when Sara's grandfather, Muhammad Sharif, revealed that the five children had been staying at his house, where they had been in hiding. Neighbors reported that a significant police operation was conducted, involving dozens of officers, to secure their recovery.
In a poignant statement, Muhammad Sharif explained that he had been harboring the children since their arrival in Pakistan. He had steadfastly refused to allow them to leave with their fugitive relatives, firmly stating that he would protect the children's well-being.
He recounted, "Since they came from the UK, I didn't let them go. I told Urfan and Beinash that they can go wherever they want to, but I will not let the children go with you. Until today, no one had asked me about the children."
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Following the successful recovery of the children, Pakistani police expressed optimism that this development would lead to the eventual discovery and apprehension of Urfan Sharif, his wife Beinash, and his brother Faisal Malik, all of whom remain fugitives from justice.
On a recent note of progress, Muhammad Sharif disclosed that negotiations had been underway to persuade the fugitives to surrender and face legal proceedings in the UK.
He shared, "I got in contact with Urfan earlier this week for the first time since his hiding...He contacted me through a voice message. I urged him to surrender as we are unable to bear this pressure now. I asked him to defend the case in a court of law and relieve us, and we cannot bear the police pressure and more arrests."
The tragic circumstances surrounding Sara's death came to light when her father, Urfan, made an emergency call from Pakistan, leading to the discovery of her lifeless body.
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A subsequent post-mortem examination revealed that Sara had endured "multiple and extensive injuries" over an extended period, shedding light on the severity and duration of her suffering.
This heart-wrenching case continues to unfold, with authorities in both the UK and Pakistan working diligently to bring justice to those responsible for Sara Sharif's untimely and tragic demise.