Hard-line chief heads Sahil hunt

ONE of Pakistan’s top ministers, described as “one of the toughest men on Earth” — is leading the hunt for kidnapped Shaw boy Sahil Saeed.

Oldham East and Saddleworth MP Phil Woolas today revealed that Pakistan interior minister Rehman Malik has made finding the five-year-old, snatched at gunpoint from his grandmother’s house in Jhelum on Wednesday night, his number one priority.

Interpol have also been called into the search amid fears that Sahil may have been taken out of the country.

The news came as family members’ hopes were raised that the Rushcroft School pupil had been found, only to be cruelly dashed.

His father Raja Naqqash Saeed and relatives rushed from their house in Jhelum to another area of the city yesterday amid rumours a boy had been found only to find that the police presence was for a drug bust.

Mr Woolas said he had spoken to an uncle of Sahil and the family remained distressed by the lack of progress.

But he added: “Interior minister Malik is very well known to the British Government for his anti-terrorist work. He has made this a priority.

“He’s a very tough minister with a good record. Several attempts have been made on his life. He’s one of the toughest men on Earth and we have to be grateful for his efforts.”

He said Mr Malik had led attempts to stamp out terrorism in Pakistan.

The Labour MP said the family had also been distressed by reports that the police have clues that indicate the crime was carried out by people close to them.

He added: “The family are very upset by the implication that it’s an inside job. I have been assured that there’s no evidence of that. We should remember that an extended family can be a very large number of people.”

He said the situation was “awful”, adding: “The support for Sahil is very strong across Oldham. The little boy speaks no other language than English and his class mates are very worried.”

Police in Pakistan have several times said they are closing in on the kidnappers and last night said the boy would be released within 12 hours — but there was still no good news this morning.

Family in Oldham have been keeping a sleepless vigil at his Queen Street home, praying for the youngster and appealing for help from Prime Minster Gordon Brown and other world leaders.

His heartbroken mother Akila Naqqash has made several emotional appeals for his safe return.