I have heard a few stories from various people about foreign kids being kidnapped for money in Pakistan, but this is the first time I’ve actually seen it in the news. Maybe it has been, but I’ve just not seen the stories.
This is disgusting. I hope they find this child. He’s so beautiful and just an innocent little boy.
BBC News - British boy kidnapped in Pakistan for £100,000 ransom
A five-year-old British boy has been kidnapped by robbers in Pakistan, local police have said.
Sahil Saeed, from Oldham, Greater Manchester, was taken from Jhelum where his family were on holiday.
Robbers broke into where they were staying, in the Punjab area, on Wednesday night and demanded a ransom of about £100,000.
The British High Commission is in touch with his family and local authorities have launched an investigation.
George Sherriff, a spokesman for the commission in Islamabad, said they were “continually monitoring the situation”.
The spokesman said the family had been due to fly back to Britain on Thursday following a two-week visit.
The boy’s father, Raja Naqqah Saeed, said he was visiting sick relatives in Pakistan with his son Sahil.
They were about to leave for the airport to return to the UK at 2300 local time on Wednesday when four men - armed with guns and a grenade - approached the house.
Up to 10 family members inside the house were beaten by the intruders during the night.
The robbers eventually fled with the boy, demanding a ransom equivalent to £100,000. They also took household items, believed to be jewellery and money.
The intruders said they would be back in touch at 0700 GMT, although the boy’s father said he had not heard from them.
Mr Saeed told BBC News his son is a child who “loves everyone”.
“I don’t have any money at all. They can take me if they want - just let my son come back,” he said.
“I am nothing without him,” said the boy’s father.
And, speaking at the family’s home, the child’s mother, Akila, told Sky News there is “no chance” her family would be able to pay the ransom.
Weeping, she said: “He’s just a sweet little boy.”
Earlier, Mr Saeed, who has been based in the UK for about seven years, described the incident, saying: “They took my son. They were fully loaded with guns and hand grenades. All Pakistan police know about this, and the British Council.”
He added: “[The kidnappers] are going to ring me. I don’t know what they are going to say to me - I don’t have that much money.”
The BBC’s Aleem Maqbool reported that Punjab police are taking this very seriously and a large team is working on the case.
Our correspondent said kidnappings occurred in some parts of Pakistan.
He said: “There are criminal gangs, some associated with militant groups who make their money by kidnapping rich people, whether they be Pakistani or foreigners, and demanding money in return.”
