Kidnapped boy’s father back in UK

The father of a British boy kidnapped in Pakistan is returning to the UK, against the wishes of the country’s police, the BBC has learned.

Sahil Saeed, five, from Oldham, Greater Manchester, was seized by an armed gang while he and his father were staying with relatives in Jhelum, Punjab.

Interior minister Rehman Malik told the BBC that police had wanted his father Raja Saeed to remain as a witness.

Mr Saeed has not been named as a suspect in last Wednesday’s kidnapping.

A source close to the family told the BBC they were unaware he had left Pakistan.

Mr Malik had previously said police were closing in on the kidnappers, claiming that Sahil had been taken by someone "very close to the family".

He said this was indicated by the manner of the kidnap, the way the abductors got into the house and the "conduct… during that whole operation".

Four police officers have been suspended after it emerged they did not initially respond to the family’s emergency call.

This article is from the BBC News website. © British Broadcasting Corporation, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.