Sara Sharif’s mother speaks of her grief on Polish TV after schoolgirl’s death
Sara’s body was found at a property in Hammond Road, Woking on August 10.
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The mother of 10-year-old Sara Sharif has spoken of the grief she felt when she went to identify her daughter’s body in the mortuary.
Sara’s body was found at a property in Hammond Road, Woking, after police were called from Pakistan by her father on August 10.
A post-mortem examination found she had suffered “multiple and extensive injuries” over a “sustained and extended” period of time.
She was living with her father Urfan Sharif and his partner Beinash Batool when she died.
Speaking on Polish television programme Uwaga! on the TVN Channel, Olga Sharif said: “One of her cheeks was swollen and the other side was bruised.
“Even now, when I close my eyes I can see what my baby looked like.”
Ms Sharif said she in the interview she had separated from her husband in 2015 and Sara and her older brother had been living with her until 2019 when the family court ruled they should live with their father.
Ms Sharif still had equal rights to see the children and said while that was easy to maintain initially it became increasingly harder over time.
Mr Sharif, 41, Ms Batool, 29, and his brother, Faisal Malik, 28, are thought to have travelled to Islamabad on August 9 and are wanted by police for questioning.
They left with five children aged between one and 13-years-old, Surrey Police said.
Sara’s grandfather has told the BBC the girl’s death was an “accident” and three family members who left the UK for Pakistan will “ultimately” return to face police questioning.
Muhammad Sharif said he saw Sara’s father soon after he arrived in the city of Jhelum, in the South Asian country, and said his son had fled the UK out of “fear”.
Surrey Police are appealing for information to help them piece together a picture of Sara’s life.
Surrey County Council has told the PA news agency she was known to the local authority.
Authorities in Pakistan are searching for the trio and lawyers in the UK have said the nation’s government is unlikely to block an extradition request in connection to the death.
While there is no formal extradition treaty between the UK and Pakistan, people have been returned from the Asian country before.
The full interview with Ms Sharif will air on the Polish TV programme at 7.55pm local time on Wednesday.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.