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| Kidnapped Sahil found in Pakistan | Kidnapped Sahil found in Pakistan |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The family of a five-year-old British boy who was kidnapped while in Pakistan say they are "ecstatic" after he was found safe and well. | The family of a five-year-old British boy who was kidnapped while in Pakistan say they are "ecstatic" after he was found safe and well. |
| Sahil Saeed, from Oldham, had been snatched from his grandmother's house in Jhelum by armed robbers on 3 March. | Sahil Saeed, from Oldham, had been snatched from his grandmother's house in Jhelum by armed robbers on 3 March. |
| Greater Manchester Police said he was left near a school at 0410 GMT on Tuesday, before wandering into a field where he was found by locals. | |
| The family in Oldham said they were "over the moon" at his release. | |
| They also said that Sahil's mother Akila Naqqash had spoken to her son on the telephone. | They also said that Sahil's mother Akila Naqqash had spoken to her son on the telephone. |
| "The whole family is ecstatic. They are currently taking in the news in and want to celebrate as a family," a spokesman said. | "The whole family is ecstatic. They are currently taking in the news in and want to celebrate as a family," a spokesman said. |
| Sahil was found 20 miles away from Jhelum, near a village school in the town of Dinga in the Gujrat district, local police said. | |
| Although his exact whereabouts have not been released by the authorities, one of his uncles is thought to be with Sahil and there are reports of jubilant scenes outside his grandmother's house. | Although his exact whereabouts have not been released by the authorities, one of his uncles is thought to be with Sahil and there are reports of jubilant scenes outside his grandmother's house. |
| The boy had been visiting relatives with his father, Raja Saeed, who returned to the UK last week, against the wishes of Pakistan's police. | The boy had been visiting relatives with his father, Raja Saeed, who returned to the UK last week, against the wishes of Pakistan's police. |
| Violent robbery | Violent robbery |
| The British High Commissioner in Islamabad, Adam Thompson, said Sahil's release was "fantastic news". | The British High Commissioner in Islamabad, Adam Thompson, said Sahil's release was "fantastic news". |
| "It brings to an end the traumatic ordeal faced by Sahil Saeed's family," he said. | "It brings to an end the traumatic ordeal faced by Sahil Saeed's family," he said. |
| "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." | "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." |
| The Foreign Office said it had no further details of the release at present. | The Foreign Office said it had no further details of the release at present. |
| Sahil was taken when robbers broke into his grandmother's house. Up to 10 family members inside the house were said to have been beaten by the intruders during a six-hour ordeal. | Sahil was taken when robbers broke into his grandmother's house. Up to 10 family members inside the house were said to have been beaten by the intruders during a six-hour ordeal. |
| The robbers then took items believed to be jewellery and money and fled with the boy. | The robbers then took items believed to be jewellery and money and fled with the boy. |
| The raiders had apparently demanded a £100,000 ransom for the boy's return, but his family had said there was "no way" they could afford any such payment. | The raiders had apparently demanded a £100,000 ransom for the boy's return, but his family had said there was "no way" they could afford any such payment. |
| The BBC's Aleem Maqbool said it was not yet known whether any ransom had been paid. | The BBC's Aleem Maqbool said it was not yet known whether any ransom had been paid. |
| Pakistan's interior minister, Rehman Malik, confirms Sahil has been found | Pakistan's interior minister, Rehman Malik, confirms Sahil has been found |
| He also said kidnapping was not rare in Pakistan, and even when ransoms are handed over, such cases do not always end happily. | He also said kidnapping was not rare in Pakistan, and even when ransoms are handed over, such cases do not always end happily. |
| The policy of the Foreign Office is that it does not pay ransoms and it advises others not to do so either. | The policy of the Foreign Office is that it does not pay ransoms and it advises others not to do so either. |
| The law minister of Punjab province, Rana Sanaullah, was asked on ARY TV on Tuesday whether Sahil's father had paid a ransom to secure his child's release. | The law minister of Punjab province, Rana Sanaullah, was asked on ARY TV on Tuesday whether Sahil's father had paid a ransom to secure his child's release. |
| He said the money had been paid "not in Britain, but in another country". | He said the money had been paid "not in Britain, but in another country". |
| Jane Sheridan, headteacher at Rushcroft Primary School, said: "We are delighted to hear that Sahil has been released safe and well. | Jane Sheridan, headteacher at Rushcroft Primary School, said: "We are delighted to hear that Sahil has been released safe and well. |
| "Along with his family, we eagerly await his return to Oldham, and back to Rushcroft where he has been missed by his friends and teachers." | "Along with his family, we eagerly await his return to Oldham, and back to Rushcroft where he has been missed by his friends and teachers." |
| Last week, relatives of the boy spoke of their anguish after false reports that he had been found and handed over to his father. | Last week, relatives of the boy spoke of their anguish after false reports that he had been found and handed over to his father. |
| His uncle, Raja Khalid Bashir, said at the time that it was "like losing him a second time". | His uncle, Raja Khalid Bashir, said at the time that it was "like losing him a second time". |
| In Oldham, Sahil's mother had appealed to the kidnappers for the safe return of her son, saying: "I just want my son back. All is forgiven, I will forgive you." | In Oldham, Sahil's mother had appealed to the kidnappers for the safe return of her son, saying: "I just want my son back. All is forgiven, I will forgive you." |
| After Sahil was taken, several men - including a taxi driver - were arrested. | After Sahil was taken, several men - including a taxi driver - were arrested. |
| Four police officers have been suspended for not initially responding to the family's emergency call. | Four police officers have been suspended for not initially responding to the family's emergency call. |
| But Aleem Maqbool said that, following a press conference in Pakistan on Tuesday, it has become clear that the police do not have any suspects in custody. | But Aleem Maqbool said that, following a press conference in Pakistan on Tuesday, it has become clear that the police do not have any suspects in custody. |