British boy's kidnap ordeal ends
Source: Agencies |
March 17, 2010, Wednesday
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Print Edition
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A BRITISH boy kidnapped 12 days ago while on holiday in Pakistan was freed unharmed by his abductors yesterday, police said.
"We are very happy. Thank God he is safe and sound," said Raja Basharat, the grand-uncle of five-year-old Sahil Saeed.
Pakistan will hand the boy over to the British embassy, regional police chief Aslam Tarin told a news conference.
The boy's relatives in Jhelum had received a call from the kidnappers that he had been left in the nearby garrison town of Kharian. Tarin said Sahil was "playing with the police."
Gunmen held several of Sahil's family members at gunpoint for several hours and took away 150,000 rupees (US$1,750) and some gold during the kidnapping, and later demanded a 10 million rupee ransom.
Provincial Law Minister Rana Sanaullah said an "international gang of kidnappers" was responsible.
"We are trying to bust this gang with the help of other countries," he said.
Interior Minister Rehman Malik had said he suspected relatives were involved. But Tarin said: "We have found no evidence of involvement of his father or any of his family members in it."
The British High Commissioner in Islamabad, Adam Thomson, said: "It is fantastic news which brings an end to the traumatic ordeal faced by Sahil and his family, I would like to praise the high-level of cooperation between 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."
Kidnapping is a major problem in Pakistan and many crimes go unreported. Local media said yesterday that the dead body of a two-year-old Pakistani girl kidnapped for ransom had been found near the northwestern city of Peshawar.
"We are very happy. Thank God he is safe and sound," said Raja Basharat, the grand-uncle of five-year-old Sahil Saeed.
Pakistan will hand the boy over to the British embassy, regional police chief Aslam Tarin told a news conference.
The boy's relatives in Jhelum had received a call from the kidnappers that he had been left in the nearby garrison town of Kharian. Tarin said Sahil was "playing with the police."
Gunmen held several of Sahil's family members at gunpoint for several hours and took away 150,000 rupees (US$1,750) and some gold during the kidnapping, and later demanded a 10 million rupee ransom.
Provincial Law Minister Rana Sanaullah said an "international gang of kidnappers" was responsible.
"We are trying to bust this gang with the help of other countries," he said.
Interior Minister Rehman Malik had said he suspected relatives were involved. But Tarin said: "We have found no evidence of involvement of his father or any of his family members in it."
The British High Commissioner in Islamabad, Adam Thomson, said: "It is fantastic news which brings an end to the traumatic ordeal faced by Sahil and his family, I would like to praise the high-level of cooperation between 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."
Kidnapping is a major problem in Pakistan and many crimes go unreported. Local media said yesterday that the dead body of a two-year-old Pakistani girl kidnapped for ransom had been found near the northwestern city of Peshawar.
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