THE PAKISTANI authorities have contacted Interpol to help with their investigation into the kidnap of a five-year-old boy after reports that the kidnappers had called Raja Naqqash Saeed, the father of the boy, from international numbers, including a number in Spain.
Visiting Mr Saeed in the central Pakistani town of Jhelum, the interior minister, Rehman Malik, warned the kidnappers to release the boy within 48 hours. “Leave the boy, because we are very close to you,” Mr Malik said, addressing the kidnappers through the media.
Sahil, from Oldham in Greater Manchester, was abducted on Thursday after robbers broke into his grandmother’s house in Jhelum. He and his father were on the last day of a two-week holiday in Pakistan.
Sahil’s family have reacted angrily to suggestions that a family member could be involved in the kidnapping. But Mr Malik repeated the charge, saying the manner of the abduction pointed to inside involvement “because of the way the situation has happened, the way entry was made”.
Kidnapping of children is not uncommon in Pakistan, leading some to question why such resources have been devoted to this case alone. National and provincial police forces, as well as intelligence agencies, have prioritised the case after it made headline news in the UK.
Mr Malik said the crime was an attempt to destabilise and tarnish the image of the country.
Although police have remained confident throughout the investigation, they appear to lack any firm leads. Mr Saeed, who had expressed frustration at the lack of progress in the case, appeared to be reassured by the minister’s hour-long visit. “I am fully confident right now,” he said.
The robbers made a ransom demand of £100,000 when they snatched Sahil and it is understood the demand has since been repeated in phone calls to Mr Saeed. – (Guardian service)