Kidnapped British boy safe and well after holiday ordeal

A BRITISH boy kidnapped while on holiday in Pakistan nearly two weeks ago has been located safe and well, the British High Commission said today.

Sahil Saeed, aged five, was snatched from his grandmother's house in Jhelum, in the Punjab region of the country, on 4 March after robbers held his family hostage at gunpoint.

The British High Commission in Islamabad said today he had been released and was safe.

Adam Thomson, the British High Commissioner in Islamabad, said: "This is fantastic news. It brings to an end the traumatic ordeal faced by Sahil Saeed's family.

"I would like to praise the high level of co-operation between the UK and Pakistani authorities, and in particular I would like to thank the Jhelum police for their role in bringing about the safe return of Sahil."

Sahil's mother, Akila Naqqash, was said to be "ecstatic" when she was told the news at her home in Oldham, Greater Manchester.

She was able to speak to Sahil on the phone, but said she was not in a position to celebrate until her son was safely back home.

A police liaison officer at the family home said: "They are overjoyed. For 12 or 13 days, waiting, building hopes up and then hopes going down. She is overjoyed. It is really happy, just really happy."

Raja Basharat, Sahil's great-uncle, said: "We are very happy. Thank God he is safe and sound."

Foreign Office officials said they were unable at present to provide any more details about the boy's release.

But police said Sahil was found today in the town of Dinga, some 20 miles from Jhelum.

Sahil, from Oldham, 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 originally set a deadline of noon the next day for the money to be delivered.

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 they were close to securing the boy's release.

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

Mr Naqqash Saeed returned to the UK at the start of last week, despite reports police in Pakistan wanted him to stay in the country as a witness.

Police official Ijaz Ahmed told the Associated Press Sahil was found earlier today in the town of Dinga in Punjab province.

Dinga is some 20 miles from his relatives' house in Jhelum where he was kidnapped.

The raiders apparently demanded a 100,000 ransom for the boy's return.

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

Punjab law minister Rana Sanaullah, who is responsible for security in the province where the boy was abducted, said today an "international gang of kidnappers" was responsible for the kidnap.

He said: "We are trying to bust this gang with the help of other countries."