All we want is Sahil’s safe return

MISSING . . . Sahil Saeed

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SHOCKED pupils at Rushcroft Primary School were told about the kidnap yesterday.

Head teacher Jane Sheridan said: “This is a very close-knit and friendly school community.

“Sahil and his family are very much in all our thoughts.

“I have informed the children, staff and governors about the situation and clearly they are all very worried.

“Everyone at the school is deeply concerned about Sahil’s welfare.

“We are doing all we can to support his family during this extremely difficult time.”

Officials believe the kidnappers struck purely for the ransom. There is not thought to be any terrorist link. The family were regarded as relatively rich compared with the rest of the community.

Susan Wynn (34) who lives opposite them in Shaw was shocked by the news. Her three-year-old daughter, Sophie, plays regularly with Sahil. She said: “He is just a really nice, friendly boy.

“I can’t believe what’s happened and I am devastated for the family.

“When they said on the news it was a family from Oldham, you wouldn’t think it was neighbour from across the road.

“It is really frightening. They are a really nice, outgoing family who would do anything for you.

“I just hope that Sahil and his dad return safely.”


Child kidnap, a growing problem in Pakistan

The gang who snatched five-year-old Sahil Saeed could be linked to wider militant groups — with child kidnappings becoming a growing problem in Pakistan, leading experts said today.

The adduction was symptomatic of the “extremely weak police force and the general breakdown of law and order in Punjab,” said Farzana Shaikh, author of “Making Friends With Pakistan”.

Pakistan is among the top five most dangerous countries in the world for kidnap and ransom with incidents in the mid-to-high hundreds each year, according to estimates from global security firm red24.

But Ms Shaikh said it was rare to see a Briton targeted.

She said: “Firstly, we know very little about the actual circumstances of the kidnapping. We have just hearsay and it is difficult to know whether it is just a criminal gang or wider militant groups, which are becoming more widespread and well established in Punjab.

“It is too early to suggest if kidnappings are a growing trend — it’s important not to get too out of hand.

“Punjab is a particularly dangerous area thanks to the spread of militancy since the 1990s. That militancy has spread out from the tribal regions.

“They have long been attached to the Punjab and some even have links with al Qaida.

“Unquestionably this will be of concern to police, especially considering the worrying indictment that members of the Punjabi government have been reluctant to renounce their contact with militant groups.”

Lee Niblett, of red24, said Pakistani government statistics on kidnap were unreliable.

But he added: “Pakistan is in the top five countries in the world for kidnap for ransom incidents. Many incidents are not reported for fear of retaliation by the kidnappers or of police corruption, collusion or ineptitude.

“The majority of kidnappings for ransom, however, involve criminal gangs who normally target local businessmen.”