An uncle of Sara Sharif, the young girl found alone and dead in her UK home, claims the 10-year-old fell down the stairs and broke her neck.
Sara's uncle, Imran Sharif, is currently being held in custody by Pakistani police, officers from the city of Jhelum told Sky News.
A major manhunt is underway in Pakistan for Sara's father and his partner, who hurriedly flew out from London to Islamabad the day before police discovered Sara's body in the family's home in Woking, south of London.
Sara's father Urfan Sharif, 41, his partner Beinash Batool, 29, and his brother Faisal Malik, 28, are all believed to be hiding in Pakistan, and are wanted for questioning.
The uncle, Imran Sharif, reportedly told police the family line is that Sara fell at home.
Sky reported he allegedly told officers: "Beinash was home with the children. Sara fell down the stairs and broke her neck. Beinash panicked and phoned Urfan."
Sara's father, Batool and Malik boarded a plane bound for Islamabad the day before Sara was found dead.
They took five children, aged from one to 13, with them.
On landing, Urfan Sharif made a 999 telephone call to the UK and police rushed to the home and found Sara dead.
A post-mortem examination showed Sara had suffered extensive injuries over a sustained period before she was found, but a cause of death was not established.
Sara's uncle denied knowing where Urfan and the others are in Pakistan, Jhelum police told Sky.
He told police: "I found out what happened to Sara through the international media.
"My parents told me Urfan briefly came home very upset. He kept saying 'they' are going to take his children away from him."
"They", referred to British authorities, an officer said.
The uncle has not been charged and is said to be assisting the inquiry.
Sharif's family home in Pakistan is located in Jhelum, Punjab, around 135 kilometres from the capital, Islamabad.
Police found evidence Sharif briefly returned to Jhelum, before going into hiding.
Beinash Batool's family home in Mirpur was searched, but there was no sign of the missing Brits, Jhelum police said.
There is no formal extradition treaty between the UK and Pakistan.
