Joy as Sahil Saeed released but ransom rumours grow
Sahil Saeed, five-year-old UK boy kidnapped in Pakistan, found safe and well after family reportedly pay ransom
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Tuesday, 16, Mar 2010 06:00
By Matthew Champion.
Speculation is growing that a ransom was paid to secure the release of Sahil Saeed, the five-year-old boy kidnapped in Pakistan last month.
Sahil, from Oldham, Greater Manchester, was taken from his grandmother's house in Jhelum, Punjab, on March 3rd by armed men while he was visiting relatives with his father.
The family are said to be "over the moon" at the news of Sahil's release.
A spokesperson said Sahil's mother Akila Naqqash had spoken to her son via telephone and the whole family was "ecstatic".
Andy Thompson, assistant chief constable of Greater Manchester police, said Sahil was released at 04:10 GMT this morning by his captors next to a school in the village of Dinga, 20 miles from Jhelum.
He wandered into a nearby field where he was found by local residents who took care of him until authorities could be alerted.
"I believe he is well, considering the terrible ordeal he has been through," ACC Thompson said.
ACC Thompson said Sahil's release was secured as a result of a phonecall made to his family in the UK, while no one is in custody in Pakistan over the kidnap, raising expectations that a ransom was paid; against the advice of the British government.
Sahil's family had earlier said they could not afford to pay the reported £100,000 ransom.
Last week Sahil's father Raja Saeed returned to the UK against the wishes of Pakistani police, reportedly to arrange a ransom payment.
Police in the UK said it was likely Mr Saeed would fly back out to Pakistan in order to bring his son home. On Mr Saeed's return to the UK last week ACC Thompson would only say that he undertook the trip "very much so that the release of his son could be secured".
But he added: "I am not going to discuss what has taken place in the hours and days leading up to this release.
"I cannot discuss specific details about transactions."
Speaking in Islamabad, British high commissioner Adam Thompson said Sahil's release was "fantastic news".
Last week Punjab law minister Rana Sanaullah mistakenly claimed he had been freed but today again announced Sahil had been released.
There is now speculation Mr Sanaullah's initial statement on Friday was in fact correct.
At a news conference in Jhelum, Pakistani police said there was "absolutely no evidence" a member of Sahil's family was involved in the kidnap.