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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Showing comments 1 to 15 and replies | View All
Laura Norder, Didsbury (10/03/2010 at 10:08)
The boy was 'kidnapped' in Pakistan, a sovereign state where UK law has no jurisdiction... let the Pakistani authorities deal with it.
Stevedore, Quayside (10/03/2010 at 10:46)
Belrock, England (10/03/2010 at 10:53)
Kashif butt (10/03/2010 at 11:05)
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!!!
Stevedore, Quayside (10/03/2010 at 11:25)
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.
mike smith (10/03/2010 at 12:12)
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.
Bombay Blues (10/03/2010 at 12:37)
Ignoramus, Manchester (10/03/2010 at 13:07)
Because British people are asking the British Government to help?
Julie Brannan (10/03/2010 at 13:31)
Julie Brannan (10/03/2010 at 13:39)
Dzenko, Manchester (10/03/2010 at 14:40)
imtiaz begum (10/03/2010 at 20:46)
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!
mary sm (10/03/2010 at 23:28)
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?!
Imtiaz Begum, Birmingham (11/03/2010 at 09:46)
Lets focus on being human and doing whatever we as people can to get this child back to its mother!
katey doll, spotland (15/03/2010 at 11:43)
Katey Jayne
Rochdale