Sara Sharif’s stepmum, Beinash Batool, left the UK for Pakistan the day before Sara was found dead (Picture: PA)
The cousin of Sara Sharif’s stepmum, Beinash Batool, has urged her to return to the UK and hand herself into police.
Police officers are currently investigating the death of 10-year-old Sara, who was found dead at her home in Woking, Surrey.
Police also want to speak to Sara’s dad, Urfan, 41, along with Batool, 29, and brother Faisal Shahzad Malik, 28.
All three are believed to have travelled to Pakistan the day before Sara was found dead at her home.
This is the first time anyone from Batool’s family has spoken out since the death of Sara.
The relative told Sky News: ‘I don’t know where she is. But I’m worried about her. I’m worried about her kids.
‘She should come back to the UK, go to the police and tell them exactly what happened.
‘I don’t know – my family don’t know – what happened. It could have been an accident; a misunderstanding.’
Sara Sharif was found dead at her home in Woking, Surrey (Picture: PA)
Batool is one of the relatives police are on the hunt for (Picture: PA)
Ms Batool’s cousin – who is originally from the city of Gujrat in Pakistan – said Ms Batool was estranged from her parents, having eloped to marry Mr Sharif.
The comments come after Sara Sharif’s granddad appealed for his son to return to the UK.
He said Urfan did not reveal anything about Sara’s death when he briefly visited their family home in the Punjab province.
Two of the family’s relatives have been interrogated by police, Muhammad said.
The cause of the young girl’s death has also not yet been determined, an inquest heard.
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An inquest held into her death opened at Surrey Coroner’s Court on Tuesday, which said the precise cause of Sara’s death is ‘not yet ascertained’ but is likely to be ‘unnatural’.
Inquest proceedings have been adjourned until February 29 2024 to allow Surrey Police to carry out their investigations.
The case has sparked a huge manhunt involving detectives from the two countries.
Surrey Police are continuing to appeal for information to help them piece together a picture of Sara’s lifestyle prior to her death.
They widened the timescale of their investigation after the post-mortem examination revealed that Sara had suffered multiple and extensive injuries, likely to have been caused over a sustained and extended period of time.
Sara’s mum, Olga Sharif, is being supported by specialist officers.
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It is the first time a family member has spoken out.