Kidnappers released a five—year—old British boy unharmed on Tuesday almost two weeks after abducting him from his grandparents’ house in central Pakistan, British and Pakistani officials said.
Sahil Saeed, who is of Pakistani origin, was found in a small village in Punjab province, some 20 miles (30 kilometers) southeast of Jhelum city where armed robbers seized him on March 4, Interior Minister Rehman Malik, said.
British High Commissioner Adam Thomson, expressed relief the boy had been found and thanked Pakistan authorities for their cooperation in the search.
“This is fantastic news that brings to an end the traumatic ordeal faced by Sahil and his family,” Mr. Thomson said in a statement.
But questions remain about who kidnapped the boy and how he was released.
Mr. Malik did not reveal the identity of the kidnappers but said someone from the family was involved in the abduction, echoing a charge made by several other Pakistan officials.
The family has repeatedly denied the claim.
Pakistan officials said the boy’s father, Raja Naqqash Saeed, has returned to Britain against their wishes, but the family has said he is still in the country. The boy’s father previously said the kidnappers had demanded 100,000 British pounds ($150,000) in ransom, an amount he said the family could not afford.
Sahil’s grandfather, Raja Mohammed Basharat, told ARY television on Tuesday that “according to my information, no ransom has been paid.”
He told The Associated Press earlier that he was trying to contact the boy’s parents “to share the good news.”
“We are thankful to God and we are thankful to all those who helped us,” he said.
Mr. Malik said Pakistan authorities still have custody of the boy and are trying to determine to whom he should be released.
The number of kidnappings for ransom has soared in Pakistan, where Taliban—led militancy and a struggling economy have fuelled crime. Most victims are Pakistan nationals.
