The stepmother of Sara Sharif, the 10-year-old girl found dead at her home last month, spoke out for the first time in a video shared with Sky News and said the family was ready to cooperate with authorities British and to “fight”. our case in court”.

The police want to talk to Sara’s father, Urfan Sharif, 41, his partner Beinash Batool, 29, and his brother Faisal Shahzad Malik, 28, all of whom are said to have I traveled from the UK has Pakistan the day before the girl’s body was found at her home in Woking.

In a new video, Mr Sharif and Ms Batool sit side by side as she reads a prepared statement from a notebook.

She denies media reports that Mr Sharif’s brother Imran said Sarah fell down the stairs and claims the family was “hiding”.

“First of all, I would like to talk about Sara. Sara’s death is an incident. Our family in Pakistan is seriously affected by everything that is happening,” Ms Batool said.

Surrey Police called the video “significant” and said they were working with international partners such as Interpol “to determine next steps”.

They added that the welfare of the five children who traveled to Pakistan with Mr Sharif and Ms Batool “is a priority”.

In the video, Ms Batool spoke of her concern for the family’s safety and claimed she had been misrepresented in the press.

“All media outlets have made erroneous statements and made up lies.

“Imran [one of Mr Sharif’s brothers] did not give statement that Sara fell down the stairs and broke her neck. This was broadcast by a Pakistani media. I am very concerned for Imran’s safety.”

She claims they lack food and can’t venture outside.

“All our family members are in hiding because everyone is afraid for their safety.

“Children cannot go to school because they are afraid to leave the house. Nobody leaves the house.

“Provisions have run out and there is no food for children because adults cannot leave their homes for fear of their safety.”

Sara’s father and stepmother are ready to ‘fight their case in court’

Although she apparently left for Pakistan the day before Sara’s body was found, Ms Batool insists she, her husband and brother-in-law want to help resolve the situation.

“Finally, we are willing to cooperate with the British authorities and defend our case in court.”

An autopsy last month found Sara had “sustained multiple and extensive injuries” that were “likely caused over a sustained and prolonged period of time.”

The cause of his death has not yet been determined, but a The investigation found that this would be “probably unnatural.”.

She was previously known to the authoritiesaccording to Surrey County Council, while Surrey Police said they had “limited and historical contact” with Sara’s family.

Police believe the three men traveled to the Pakistani capital Islamabad with five children aged between one and 13 on August 9, a day before Sara’s body was found.

Speaking to Sky News today in Pakistan, Sara’s grandfather Muhammad Sharif said: “No one can hide for long. No one can survive hidden for long periods of time.

“Islam teaches that the guilty must be punished and relief must be given to the innocent.”

Sara’s mother describes the moment she identified a schoolgirl

The couple’s statement comes after Sara’s mother, Olga Sharif, spoke about the heartbreaking experience of going to view her daughter’s body.

Speaking to Polish TV show Uwaga! she said: “One of his cheeks was swollen and the other side was bruised.

“Even now, when I close my eyes, I can see what my baby looked like.”

She said in the interview that she separated from her husband in 2015 and that Sara and her older brother lived with her until 2019, when the family court ruled that they should live with their father.

Ms Sharif still had the same right to see the children and said that although this was easy to maintain initially, it became increasingly difficult over time.

Learn more:
The school pays tribute to Sara, “bubbly and confident”
The trio booked flights to Pakistan a day before the body was found

Mr Sharif called 999 from Pakistan on August 10, expressing concern for Sara’s safety, police said.

Pakistani police have been trying their best to trace the family, while Interpol and other agencies are also involved in the search to find them.

Sara’s grandfather urged his son in recent days to “present” to the police and give his “point of view” following the death of the young girl.

Muhammad Sharif, 68, told Sky News: “We are calling on the police to release my family members.

“I did my best to contact Urfan and ask him to introduce himself and give his point of view.”

Last week a cousin of Ms Batool urged her to ‘come back to the UK’ and turn herself in to the police.