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Confusion over kidnap in Pakistan Pakistan kidnap boy not released
(about 1 hour later)
Police in Pakistan have dismissed reports a British boy who was kidnapped last week has been released. A five-year-old boy from the UK who was kidnapped in Pakistan last week has not been released, authorities in Pakistan have told the Foreign Office.
Five-year-old Sahil Saeed from Oldham, Greater Manchester, was seized by an armed gang in Punjab while staying with relatives last week. Reports from Pakistan earlier suggested Sahil Saeed, from Oldham in Greater Manchester, had been freed on Wednesday but police told the BBC it was untrue.
A Punjab minister has been reported as saying the boy was found on Wednesday and has been handed over to his father. The Foreign Office said it had received confirmation Pakistani police were still investigating his disappearance.
But Kahlid Mahmoud, superintendent of the police investigation in Jhelum, has told the BBC the reports are false. The boy was seized by an armed gang in Punjab while staying with relatives.
A Punjab minister had been reported as saying the boy had been found and handed over to his father.
However Kahlid Mahmoud, superintendent of the police investigation in Jhelum, told the BBC the reports were false.
'Closing in''Closing in'
And Muhammad Aslam Tareen, a detective based in Punjab, said he could "categorically confirm" the child is still missing. And Muhammad Aslam Tareen, a detective based in Punjab, said he could "categorically confirm" the child was still missing.
Mr Tareen said: "We are closing in, yes. But have we found him yet? No. We hope to have something in the next 24 to 48 hours."Mr Tareen said: "We are closing in, yes. But have we found him yet? No. We hope to have something in the next 24 to 48 hours."
A British High Commission spokesman in Islamabad said UK diplomats are "urgently chasing" reports that Sahil has been released, and added that he had received "no evidence" the boy had been found. A Foreign Office spokesperson said: "We have confirmation from the Pakistani authorities that Sahil has not been released. Police in Pakistan are still investigating.
The BBC's Aleem Maqbool in Islamabad said: "There is no independent verification of reports he has been released." "We continue to provide consular assistance to Sahil's family."
Pakistan's High Commissioner to the UK, Wajid Hasan, told the BBC he was attempting to clarify the situation back in Pakistan.Pakistan's High Commissioner to the UK, Wajid Hasan, told the BBC he was attempting to clarify the situation back in Pakistan.
On Wednesday the BBC learned Sahil's father Raja Saeed had returned to the UK against the wishes of Pakistani police.On Wednesday the BBC learned Sahil's father Raja Saeed had returned to the UK against the wishes of Pakistani police.
Sahil had been taken from his grandmother's home in Jhelum, Punjab, as he prepared to take a taxi to the airport for his flight to the UK.Sahil had been taken from his grandmother's home in Jhelum, Punjab, as he prepared to take a taxi to the airport for his flight to the UK.
Mother's pleasMother's pleas
Several men, including a taxi driver, have been arrested since the kidnap.Several men, including a taxi driver, have been arrested since the kidnap.
Four police officers were suspended after it emerged they did not initially respond to the family's emergency call.Four police officers were suspended after it emerged they did not initially respond to the family's emergency call.
On Saturday, Sahil's mother Akila Naqqas pleaded for his safe return, saying she would forgive his son's captors if they released him.On Saturday, Sahil's mother Akila Naqqas pleaded for his safe return, saying she would forgive his son's captors if they released him.
She also said Sahil had never been apart from either herself or her husband.She also said Sahil had never been apart from either herself or her husband.
The attackers are said to have demanded a £100,000 ransom for his return.The attackers are said to have demanded a £100,000 ransom for his return.
Pakistani community groups in Oldham have said they are considering setting up a fund to pay ransoms in the event of kidnaps.Pakistani community groups in Oldham have said they are considering setting up a fund to pay ransoms in the event of kidnaps.
The UK government has a policy of not paying ransoms and advises third parties against doing so, arguing that this would encourage future kidnappings.The UK government has a policy of not paying ransoms and advises third parties against doing so, arguing that this would encourage future kidnappings.
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Sahil's father has returned to the UK against the wishes of Pakistani policeSahil's father has returned to the UK against the wishes of Pakistani police