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Family’s joy as Sahil found safe
Reporter: DAWN MARSDEN
Date online: 16 March 2010
THE family of young Sahil Saeed, kidnapped by gunmen in Pakistan, were today “overjoyed” after he was found safe and well.
The five-year-old, from Shaw, was snatched from a house in the Punjab region of the country on March 4 after robbers held his relatives hostage at gunpoint.
Sahil’s mother, Akila Naqqash, who had begged for his release, has now spoken to her son and is waiting for him to return to his home.
“They are overjoyed,” said a police liaison officer at the family home.
“For 12 or 13 days, waiting, building hopes up and then hopes going down. She is overjoyed. It is really happy, just really happy.
“Mother has spoken on the telephone and spoke to him for some time, a private conversation. He is safe and well. But the family do not want to say anything, they want to wait until he comes back.”
Family members went in and out of the terrace house in Queen Street 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. A spokesman confirmed that the boy had been located safe and well.
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.”
The five-year-old was snatched from his grandmother’s home in Jhelum in the Punjab region on March 4 at the end of a two-week holiday and a £100,000 ransom was demanded for his return.
Police say Sahil was found earlier today in Dinga, a town just 20 miles from where he was taken.
Immigration Minister and Oldham East and Saddleworth MP Phil Woolas said: “The co-operation between Greater Manchester Police and the Punjab police has led to Sahil’s safe return. Whatever the two-ing and fro-ing the police deserve our praise and thanks. I have been proud of the way the whole of Oldham has rallied behind the little boy.”
Former Oldham Mayor and family friend Riaz Ahmad said: “I am hugely relieved that Sahil has been found safe and well. This is what we have all been hoping and praying for over the past two weeks.
“I am so happy for the family and it has become a huge talking point in Oldham so I think there will be lots of people pleased at the news that Sahil is coming home.
“The details of what happened to Sahil or how he was found are still far from clear but Sahil has spoken to his mother and she is overjoyed that he is coming home.”
Raiders struck as Sahil, a pupil at Rushcroft Primary, and his father, Raja Naqqash Saeed, were loading suitcases into a taxi on their way to the airport.
Pakistani police arrested the taxi driver, several other men and a woman and refused to rule out the possibility that Sahil’s kidnap was an inside job.
Jane Sheridan, headteacher at Rushcroft Primary, 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.”
Sahil’s father 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.
Comments
Good news for the family no doubt and for the many well-wishers. I doubt, however, we have heard the full story yet as so many conflicting reports seem to have shrouded just what might have gone on.
Good news at last.But why are two police officers still outside his house in Shaw?
Hopefully the council will arrange for the community to celebrate the safe return of Sahil with a parade featuring a cultural band. All traffic should be stopped on the main arterial routes around the boys home to accommodate the parade
I am very pleased for the family, their ordeal is finally over and Sahil is found safe and well. The family can now look forward to Sahil coming home. My concern is, where is the father.........??
Great that he's been found safe, but teachers should now be a lot more reticent over granting holiday leave in term time. All adults visiting the area with children should be made aware of the issues especially now a ransom has been paid.
I somehow think this isn't the last we'll hear of this story nor do I think it's the last time it will happen.
Wonderful news. All best wishes to the family, especially, mum, Akila.
I cannot understand why Police officers have been stationed at their queen street home all this time either. Its very puzzling all round.
I'm pleased that Sahil has been found and it must be a relief for the family. What's the whole story. Where is the father? Why did he leave Pakistan against the authorities advice? Why didn't he return to his home? Why did he take his wife's passport? So many unanswered questions.
The whole of Olkdham didn't rally behind the little boy Mr Woolas. The whole of Oldham knows this is a very, very suspicious happening, but what do you care it's manna from heaven publicity wise for you isn't it??
Why on earth aren't you asking the police to bring the perpetrators of this sham to justice?
The boy is safe and well, but as he wasn't being held by hostile captors he was always going to be fine.
Where's the dad? Didn't the Police spokesman say that he had been helping them? They should know where he is. 'All will come out in the wash' as the saying goes.
It's ok for the council to arrange for all roads in shaw to be closed to accomodate a parade but the council are thinking of knocking the whit walks on the head and also organised beer festivals which have been going for years, disgraceful
well,at least i know where to find a copper if i need one
Might make a good TV documentary or 'thriller'? Maybe that's why no real details are being given away? I see that it's now reported the boy was found 'walking through a field'. Still no idea what the dad was actually doing.
At least the lad is due to get back to the UK in a few days and then we might hear more of the story behind the headlines.
Thank god he's found safe. This story is so fishy.the parents were seperated for a year got back together just a few weeks, then the dad decides to take his son abroad. why would the mother let him take him.
i wonder if this whole dilema has put you right off travelling to pakistan.
now lets hope we get a result in finding Maddie.
so please for Sahil and is family such a lovely happy ending to a horrendous ordeal the family have been through. I am disgusted at some of the comments made on this page by people. We should not believe everything word for word that the papers write, the poor boy was kidnapped for god sake in a country thats lawless and his parents were helpless the media love to spice stories up we should not loose sight of what was important getting that poor boy back!!!! Please stop all the speculations
Have Your Say
I'm pleased that the kid has been found safe and well, but something really does not smell right about this story.
By MarkH @ 16/03/2010 12:47:51