Family wait for freed boy's return (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Family wait for freed boy's return

3:00am Wednesday 17th March 2010 in

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The family of the five-year-old boy freed by kidnappers in Pakistan are waiting for news of his return to the UK.

Sahil Saeed was found by locals wandering in a field on Tuesday, alone but unharmed, and was handed over to Pakistani police.

The youngster's return is being organised by the British High Commission in Islamabad.

It is thought his father Raja Naqqash Saeed, 28, is flying to Pakistan to collect his son, who was held captive for 12 days.

His mother Akila Naqqash, 31, spoke of her joy after hearing that her little boy was safe.

Speaking from the family home in Oldham, Greater Manchester, she said: "I need to see him with my own eyes to believe it. The police are looking after him. We are just watching the news. We are not travelling out there.

"He will fly back but we don't know when yet."

Mrs Naqqash, who also has two daughters aged four and 21 months, said she would give him "a big kiss and cuddles" on his return.

Sahil was on holiday with his father in the Punjab region of Pakistan when he was snatched by gunmen. The pair were preparing to take a taxi to the airport for their flight home to the UK when raiders struck.

A ransom demand of £100,000 was reportedly made by the men. Rana Sanaullah, the Punjab law minister, said he believed the ransom had been paid by Sahil's father.