Kidnap boy's father is helping police in search

The father of a five-year-old boy who was kidnapped in Pakistan last week has been reunited with his wife and is helping officers find his son, British police said yesterday. Raja Naqqash Saeed, 28, is aiding authorities "to ensure the safe return of Sahil", Detective Chief Superintendent Darren Shenton, of Greater Manchester Police, said.

Mr Saeed, who was holidaying with his son in Pakistan when he was snatched on Wednesday of last week, has been reunited with his wife Akila at their home in Oldham, Greater Manchester.

Sahil Saeed was taken at gunpoint from his grandmother's house in the Punjab region of Pakistan by raiders who put a £100,000 ransom on his head, and is still missing. Speculation that his father is a suspect in the case is not correct, Mr Shenton said. Police in Pakistan have made several arrests but none has been made in the UK.

He said: "Mr Saeed is working with us, and his wife and the family for the safe release of his son. GMP (Greater Manchester Police) has not made any arrests in relation to the Pakistani investigation. Our primary concern is Sahil's welfare and his safe return."

Mr Saeed and his son were at the end of a two-week visit when the boy was snatched. Several men, including a taxi driver, have been arrested, and four police officers were suspended after it emerged that they did not initially respond to the family's emergency call. Mr Shenton said the Pakistani police were in charge of the investigation and GMP were assisting them, but had no officers out there.