Kidnapped Boy Reunited With Father

A five-year-old Manchester boy held to ransom by a suspected criminal gang in Pakistan has been reunited with his father.

Sahil Saeed was taken by armed robbers from his grandmother's home in Punjab two weeks ago.

The boy and his father, Raja, were preparing to depart and return to Oldham when intruders raided the property.

Sahil was taken hostage, and a £100,000 ransom was reportedly issues hours later.

It is now believed a sum of £110,000 was paid to the kidnappers for Sahil's safe return.

Raja and his son posed for the press at the British High Commissioner's compound in Islamabad this morning.

Sahil had been kept out of the media spotlight since he was found on Tuesday. His kidnappers are believed to have left him at a disused space, close to a school in Jhelum.

Three people are due to appear in court in Spain in connection with the kidnap. Two others were arrested in Paris.

Mr Saeed was reportedly part of the police sting to snare his son's capturers. He left Pakistan while the investigation was still ongoing. At the time authorities made it clear his return to the UK was against their wishes.

However, it is believed Mr Saeed flew to Britain, then on to Paris where he handed over the ransom in view of a covert police operations.

Some cash had already been handed over in Pakistan, according to the country's Interior Minister.

The Interpol police investigation was aided by forces in France and Spain.

When Mr Saeed handed money over to suspects in Paris, French police followed the two men to the Spanish border.

Three others, including a woman, were arrested following a raid on a house outside Barcelona.

(PR/GK)