Thousands of people across the country have joined internet campaigns demanding the release of Oldham youngster Sahil Saeed.
The five-year-old was snatched by armed robbers from his grandmother’s house in Pakistan on the last day of a two-week family holiday with his father.
Despite Pakistani police claims they are closing in on the kidnappers – six days on the
little boy remains missing.
Thousands of people have inundated the Facebook website with prayers and messages of support and solidarity for Sahil's family in Shaw.
One group, 'Free Sahil Saeed’, has got 8,682 supporters, while another ‘Pray for Sahil Saeed’ has 3,174.
Other groups have called for people to petition Downing Street and put pressure on the British authorities for action.
More than 1,000 angry Facebook users questioned why Gordon Brown hasn’t spoken out about the kidnap or how the British government can help.
The Foreign Office say staff continue to ‘provide support’ to the Saeed family, here and abroad. A spokesman added: “Pakistani police are conducting vigorous enquiries and we know Sahil’s case is being overseen at the highest levels in the Pakistani government.”
“The Foreign Secretary is following the case closely and is receiving regular updates.”
Speaking from her Queen Street home, Sahil’s mother Akila has repeated pleas to the kidnappers to return her ‘sweet little boy’ home safe and sound.
The family’s hopes were briefly raised on Monday after reports Sahil has been released, but it was another missing boy in the same area.
Pakistani police have repeatedly claimed they are ‘closing in’ on the kidnappers and Sahil will be found in a matter of hours.
A number of people have been held, including the taxi driver due to take Sahil and dad Raja Naqqash Saeed to the airport. It is understood four police officers have been suspended over their handling of the case.
Akila said she had not heard anything from the kidnappers and the family can’t afford the £100,000 ransom. She added: “I’m just sat here waiting and praying.
“I can’t understand why they took him. We just want him back.”
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Why should the British government get embroiled in this issue - I appreciate the child is British - other than to monitor the local law agencies' take on it, and offer support.
The boy was 'kidnapped' in Pakistan, a sovereign state where UK law has no jurisdiction... let the Pakistani authorities deal with it.
This crime, if it is a crime, was committed in Pakistan and it is for the Pakistani police to investigate. The only role that the British Government has is to offer advice to the family through the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and not the Prime Ministers Office who I'm sure have got more important matters of state to deal with than the "kidnap" of a child in Pakistan. As for these Facebook campaigners calling for a petition to put pressure on Downing Street (the Prime Ministers Office) for action; I sincerely hope that they are not suggesting that we the British tax-payer pay this £100,000 ransom because I for one will raise a counter petition to make sure we don't.
It appears that the Pakistan authorities are unable to resolve the kidnapping of this youngster. There have been promises by the Pakistan police saying we are close it will be resolve in 24 hours then it was 12 hours they, arrested several people and even said that a member of the boy's family were involved in an inside job. Personally I don't have much faith in the police over there. I think Britain should up the pressure on the Pakistan Government.
for Stevedore and Laura,
you people sound so cruel and mean and is this only cos the boy is pakistani origin. For God sake come out of that little hatred mentality because this boy is a sweet little british boy and before anything he is human being. Why you were ok when british government and few organisations were invloved in same sort of events which happened in past (portugal etc), that was out of uk jurisidictions.
You wouldnt be saying all this if your child was abducted like this.
I am just ashamed by your comments!!!
Karen Matthews, Dewsbury,
Was a fund set up to release the British couple who are still being held by Somalian pirates?, no it was not so why should an exemption be made in this case.
referance to Stevedore, Quayside, we must not compare race ,religon.orign etc when an innocent person is in trouble,ill feelings must go to the perepertrators regardless of race,religon and orign.
the british gov can put a lot of pressure on the pakistani authorites for safe return of this child so in future these types of incidents dont happen to foreigners regardless of race,religon or orign.
The first 2 comments would have been totally different had this been a white british child. I bet you did not say the same with madeline mccan.
"Why should the British government get embroiled in this issue "
Because British people are asking the British Government to help?
There is something very odd about this whole story. The latest developments are that the father has come back to the UK. No ransom whould be paid otherwise it sets a precedent. The Shannon Mathews case never rang true, and neither does this.
There is something not quite right about this story. The latest development is the father has flown home, against the wishes of the Pakistan authorities. I certainly wouldnt be happy with anyone raising money and paying kidnappers unless 100% sure the extended family isnt involved.
I can't believe Laura Norder and Stevedore are saying that the Pakistani Government should deal with it and why should the British Government get involved. Well, its because Sahil is BRITISH which means the British Government has an obligation to protect its citizens!!! Do you not remember the Madaline McCain case where the poor girl was kidnapped in Portugal - millions of people world-wide got involved and supported the case for finding her including the British Government. Would you be saying the same thing had your child been kidnapped while you was on holiday abroad? Stop being heartless and show some moral support for your fellow British citizen!!!
At the end of the day any parent would do whatever it takes to get their child back. The Maddie Mccan case is still in the press/ongoing and how much tax payer money/government funds have gone it to that i ask? As i recollect she was kidnapped in "portugal" not britain but the british police got involved and went over. Also what about the shannon matthews case.She was "kidnapped" for nearly a month, whilst being hidden under a bed whilst fund were set up/police time wasted. I as a person am happier on my tax money being used for this compared to war and death!
However if this is an inside job may god forgive his parents for putting the poor child through this.
Lets focus on being human and doing whatever we as people can to get this child back to its mother!
no one is asking gordon brown to pay a ransom, if a fund is going to be set up then it will be done by people who wish to support the cause, if a fund is not being set up for the couple who were captured by the somali pirates, then there is nothing we can do about this. sahil is only 5 years old and we do not know whether he is even alive, whereas with the couple captured by the pirates we have had video footage which confirms that they are still alive which is why the story about sahils kidnap has caused so much media coverage and support etc
as a british citizen it is the job and role of this country to protect its citizens regardless of where they are! if they cannot do that, then tell me what is the point of them?!
At the end of the day any parent would do whatever it takes to get their child back. The Maddie Mccan case is still in the press/ongoing and how much tax payer money/government funds have gone it to that i ask? As i recollect she was kidnapped in "portugal" not britain but the british police got involved and went over. Also what about the shannon matthews case.She was "kidnapped" for nearly a month, whilst being hidden under a bed whilst fund were set up/police time wasted. I as a person am happier on my tax money being used for this compared to war and death!
Lets focus on being human and doing whatever we as people can to get this child back to its mother!
i am appalled and sickened by the way some of you people are talking about this issue. if one of your youngsters were to get kidnapped abroad would you expect any help of our police? yes you would. my four year old little boy went over to pakistan jus days before this youngster got kiddnapped my little boy is one quarter asian and for you peaople to tell our police to keep out of it is just a disgrace put yourselves in his mothers shoes and pull your heads out of your backsides
Katey Jayne
Rochdale