Three members of 10-year-old Sara Sharif’s family have been arrested after returning to the UK.
Urfan Sharif, the father of Sara, his partner Beinash Batool and brother Faisal Malik, were on a flight from Dubai to Gatwick that landed on Wednesday evening.
Surrey Police said two men, aged 41 years and 28 years, and a woman, aged 29 years, were arrested on suspicion of murder after disembarking a flight from Dubai at Gatwick Airport.
Sara’s mother has been informed and is being supported by specialist officers, the force said.
A post-mortem examination revealed the schoolgirl had suffered “multiple and extensive injuries” over a “sustained and extended period of time”.
A cause of death is still to be established. It is understood that not one single “catastrophic injury” is responsible.
Last week, in their first public statement since the manhunt was launched, Sharif and Batool insisted Sara’s death was an “incident” and that they were willing to cooperate with UK authorities.
The three adults were not formally arrested by Pakistan police but had voluntarily cooperated with Britain’s High Commission to fly back to the UK, according to sources.
‘Police tightened the noose’
A police source said: “They gave into the pressure built by the police through raids and detention of their relatives.
“Police tightened the noose around them and they found it difficult to hide in Pakistan any further.
“I can’t say they left voluntarily. They were given a safe route to travel to the UK without facing arrest in Pakistan.”
A flight itinerary obtained by The Telegraph shows the three adults were booked on a commercial Emirates flight from Sialkot into Dubai at 5:30 am on Wednesday morning then onto a connecting business class flight to Gatwick airport arriving at 7:45pm.
Raja Haq Nawaz, the family’s lawyer, said: “Pakistan police failed to arrest them, and they are on their way back to the UK via Dubai on an Emirates flight.
“The other family members who were arrested and harassed by the police during the hunt of the fugitives will be released in a few days ahead that include two brothers of Urfan Imran Sharif and Zareef Sharif and his brother-in-law Usman Chaudhary”.
Pakistan police had raided more than three dozen properties in connection with the case.
“The case is over now and we are relieved as the fugitive group fled to the UK, it was a complex case to hunt down the trio,” an official in Jhelum said.
Five children who accompanied the adults when they flew to Pakistan have remained in the country in a government childcare facility following a court ruling on Tuesday.
Elaine Hadley is a dedicated journalist covering the ever-evolving landscape of U.S. news. With a keen interest in politics and a commitment to uncovering the truth, she provides insightful commentary and in-depth analysis on domestic issues. When not reporting, Elaine enjoys exploring the diverse cultures and landscapes of the United States.
