FAMILY DENIES RELATIVES INVOLVED IN BOYS KIDNAP....

The family of the kidnapped five-year-old Sahil Saeed reacted furiously today to suggestions that relatives may have played a part in his kidnap in Pakistan.

"That's totally rubbish," said the boy's father, Raja Naqqash Saeed. "I don't know who [the kidnappers] are, I don't know where they come from."

Sahil, from Oldham, Greater Manchester, was snatched by an armed gang from his grandmother's house in Punjab, hours before he and his father were due to return to Britain.

The kidnappers have demanded £100,000 for his safe return.

Wajid Shamsul Hasan, the Pakistani high commissioner to the UK, indicated in a television interview today that detectives were looking at the possibility of whether the kidnap involved any of the boy's relatives.

"We are committed to recovering the young boy, he said. "All our resources are being directed … in Punjab. They have arrested a few persons. The initial investigation is also looking at the possibility of a sort of inside job as well. There's a possibility of someone in the family having some sort of knowledge. The perception is that they had a lot of money, so somebody from inside of the family who is less fortunate might have arranged it."

At the family's home in Oldham, Sahil's great-uncle Matlub Ahmed said the family played no part in the abduction. "The people who did this must have had some information, but that is all," he said. "We are all praying to bring that kid back. His mother has been crying all night. So far, we have got no news at all, but one telephone call can change everything."

Police in Pakistan have expressed confidence in Sahil being return safely, but it is unclear whether they have any real leads. On Thursday, the day of the kidnapping, the driver of the taxi booked to take Saeed and his son to the airport was arrested. The kidnappers had made their getaway in the vehicle, which was abandoned about 1.5 miles from the house in Jhelum.

In overnight raids, eight more people were arrested but they are believed to be known criminals who were rounded up in case they had information. Tahir Bashir, the local police officer heading the investigation, said: "We are trying. God willing, we will find a lead. The whole police force is involved. All angles are being explored."

Phil Woolas, the immigration minister and Oldham East and Saddleworth MP, said police were following strong leads. "This is the number one priority for the Foreign Office in Pakistan. But the focus is still on the police operation."

The government will review its travel advice for the region once the situation is resolved, he added.

A Foreign Office spokesman said: "We are monitoring the investigation closely. The Pakistani police are taking this very seriously and a very substantial effort is being made."

Sahil's mother, Akila Naqqash, 31, said there was no chance her family would be able to pay the ransom. "Sahil is a really quiet child - he's no harm to nobody," she said yesterday.

"Why would they want to take my son? What have we done? We've done nothing wrong."

Riaz Ahmad, a former mayor of Oldham and family friend, said : "The deadline set by the kidnappers came and went. We have heard nothing. Everyone is bearing up but we are praying this ordeal will soon be over."

Reading that article reminded me of Sharon Mathews, no idea why.

I hope the child is found unharmed, but it all sounds a bit fishy to me.

I heard that on thursday, the parents of the child made a heart wrenching plea,
for someone to cover the boys shift at the cornershop over the weekend.

lmao dans, or should i say pmsl i never remember which one to use chelsea sent me that in a text

The child has been found in a nearby province called Maidana. It's not clear whether he is alive or dead.


EDIT - It has transpired that the boy found is not their son. The search continues.

It looks more and more like the family ARE in on this. The boy's father FLEW HOME, yet his son has still not been found? ( Home being the UK, of course ).

Maiden wrote:It looks more and more like the family ARE in on this. The boy's father FLEW HOME, yet his son has still not been found? ( Home being the UK, of course ).

Not so much the family but more the father. The father was met by men in suits at Manchester Airport and escorted away. Latest reports suggest the father and his side of the family are trying to mentally torture the mother and extort money from her.

If this turns out to be the case I really hope they throw the book at him.

Yea, and by family, I meant relation. Anyway, kind of glad he has come *home* here to the UK, for he won't escape justice now.

What an absolute bastard the father is!!! I knew from the start that something wasn't right, I hope he goes away for years! They probably wanted money for terrorist activities in the UK.