Missing British boy kidnapped in Pakistan found safe and well

THE family of a five-year-old British boy kidnapped by gunmen in Pakistan were "overjoyed" today after he was found wandering alone in a field.

• Police chief Aslam Tareen addresses the media after Sahil Saeed was found today

Sahil Saeed was reported to be safe and well after he was released this morning.

He was snatched from a house in the Punjab region in the north of the country on March 4 after robbers held his relatives hostage at gunpoint.

His mother, Akila Naqqash, spoke to her son today and is waiting for him to return to the family home in Oldham, Greater Manchester.

"They are overjoyed," said a police liaison officer.

"For 12 or 13 days, waiting, building hopes up and then hopes going down. She is overjoyed. It is really happy, just really happy.

"They were made aware he had been found safe and well. Mother has spoken on the telephone and spoke to him for some time, a private conversation. He is safe and well."

Family members went in and out of the terraced house with broad smiles of relief but refused to comment to reporters and TV crews outside.

Sahil is understood to still be in Pakistan and his return is being organised by the British High Commission in Islamabad.

It is thought family members will fly out to be reunited with him in Pakistan before he is flown back to the UK.

Greater Manchester Police Assistant Chief Constable Dave Thompson said the boy was released at 4.10am British time in Kharian City in the Punjab.

He said: "The release was made as a result of a phone call made to his family.

"He was released nearby to a school, alone, wandered into a local field and was found by some local residents who looked after him until such time his family found him with the police."

He also praised the "support and co-operation" given by Sahil's mother and father.

Sahil was on holiday with his father, Raja Naqqash Saeed, in Pakistan when he was snatched.

Raiders struck as the pair were preparing to take a taxi to the airport for their flight home to the UK.

The kidnappers apparently demanded a 100,000 ransom for the boy's return and originally set a deadline of noon the next day for the money to be delivered.

His family promptly said there was "no way" they could afford any such payment.

After Sahil was taken, several men – including a taxi driver – were arrested.

His family suffered frustrations during the investigation, after Pakistani authorities said on several occasions that they were close to securing the boy's release.

Sahil's mother begged for the safe return of her son, telling the kidnappers at one point: "I just want my son back. All is forgiven, I will forgive you."

Sahil's father returned to the UK at the start of last week, despite reports that police in Pakistan wanted him to stay in the country as a witness.

Police said they were determined that Sahil's kidnappers would be brought to justice.

Mr Thompson said: "This remains a fast-moving international inquiry. It is led in Pakistan but over the last 12 days there has been

considerable support delivered by the Greater Manchester Police to support the safe return of this young boy.

"This still remains a very active criminal investigation and Greater Manchester Police and the Pakistani authorities are still determined to bring people to justice and that will be a high priority in the coming hours days and weeks."