Mother's joy as kidnap son is freed (From Leigh Journal)

Mother's joy as kidnap son is freed

1:08pm Tuesday 16th March 2010 in

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The mother of a five-year-old British boy freed by kidnappers in Pakistan has spoken of her relief and the joy of hearing his voice once more.

After 12 agonising days hoping and praying, Akila Naqqash was finally able to speak to her son, Sahil Saeed, after he was snatched by gunmen from a house in the Punjab region on March 4.

He was found by locals wandering in a field earlier on Tuesday, alone but unharmed, handed over to Pakistani police and his mother was given the news she had been praying for.

"It was amazing. At first I thought it was not true," Mrs Naqqash said from the family home in Oldham, Lancs.

The 31-year-old said she thought she was dreaming after being woken by her sister-in-law at 4.20am following a call from Pakistan and spoke to Sahil herself around 9am.

"My sister-in-law came upstairs saying he has been found. We are overjoyed. I am over the moon. I couldn't believe it. I feel like this is all a dream, and it isn't true. Now we have finally got the good news we have been waiting for and I have spoken to my boy. I was worried about the way he was going to speak but the first thing he said was 'Mummy mummy I've bought some new toys'.

"He was talking as normal. He hasn't mentioned anything about what happened. He was talking about his sisters. He was going on and on and on about his toys - just a normal little boy."

Mrs Naqqash, who also has two daughters aged four and 21 months, said she did not know when her son would return home but vowed to "never" return to Pakistan.

"I need to see him with my own eyes to believe it," she added.

"He will fly back but we don't know when yet. I will never be going back there. When he comes back I am going to give him a big kiss and cuddles and keep him happy."