Mother's tears over kidnapped boy

A five-year-old British boy has been kidnapped by robbers in Pakistan
12 April 2012

The mother of a five-year-old British boy kidnapped by gun-wielding robbers in Pakistan broke down in tears as she said her family had "no chance" of meeting a £100,000 ransom.

Sahil Saeed, from Oldham, Greater Manchester, was snatched in the Punjab region after his grandmother's house was raided by robbers.

His father, Raja Naqqash Saeed, said the kidnappers had put a noon deadline on the ransom for his safe return.

Speaking at the family's home, his mother Akila said there is "no chance" her family would be able to pay. She wept as she told Sky News: "He's just a sweet little boy."

The robbers held the family at gunpoint throughout the night after breaking in, a spokesman for the British High Commission in Islamabad said. They eventually fled with the boy and household items, believed to be jewellery and money.

Mr Saeed said robbers armed with guns and hand grenades broke into the house in Jhelum, where the boy was on holiday. He added: "They took my son. They were fully loaded with guns and hand grenades. All Pakistan police know about this, and the British Council."

Mr Saeed said his family were beaten, slapped and kicked by the robbers during a six-hour ordeal. He told Sky News: "They took me into the separate room and they tortured me. They said 'we will take your son and you will have to pay £100,000'."

The family had been due to fly back to Britain, the commission spokesman added. Officials are in touch with the boy's family and local authorities are investigating the snatch, he added.

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