Mother 'forgives' kidnappers in new plea for son's return

Police in the Punjab region of the country are continuing to question several men over the abduction but there was no sign of an imminent rescue of five-year-old Sahil Saeed.

Sahil was grabbed by gun-wielding raiders on Thursday from his grandmother’s house. They were said to have demanded a 100,000 ransom.

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani called Sahil’s father this weekend to assure him the family had the full support of his government.

His mother, Akila Naqqash, yesterday made a direct appeal to the abductors from the family home in Oldham, Greater Manchester, to end their ordeal and let her son go.

The Foreign Office echoed that appeal and said its High Commission in Islamabad was in regular contact with the police officer leading the investigation.

In a message to the kidnappers, Ms Naqqash, 31, said: “I just want my son back. All is forgiven, I will forgive you.

“You may have children yourself. I forgive you.”

The tearful mother said the family was still nervously awaiting updates from Pakistan where her husband, Raja Naqqash Saeed, received assurances from the country’s prime minister that they were making every effort to recover the boy.

Ms Naqqash said: “All we can do is just pray for him. I am hopeful, I am just praying all day and every night,” she said.

“All we are doing is waiting.”

Ms Naqqash renewed her appeal to Prime Minister Gordon Brown and governments worldwide to step up their efforts to help in the hunt for the boy.

She pleaded: “Gordon Brown and other countries, just do anything to get my son back. We can just hope and pray, and see what they can do.”

She thanked well-wishers from across the country who have sent cards to the family.

“It is a really good comfort that people from the UK have sent us cards of support.

“Sahil’s friends have made pictures for him. We have had loads of support from everyone. All I can say is thank you.”

It was reported that Sahil’s father Naqqash Saeed spoke to the kidnappers on the phone on Friday and was told “the boy is with us and we will call you later”.

A Foreign Office spokesman said: “Our thoughts are with Sahil and his family at this extremely distressing time. Consular staff are continuing to provide support to the family, both in the UK and Pakistan.

“The Foreign Secretary (David Miliband) is following the case closely. We call on whoever is holding Sahil to return him to his family.”