Search: Sahil Saeed kidnap
The tearful mother of a five-year-old British boy snatched by gun-wielding robbers in Pakistan has begged the kidnappers not to hurt him.
Akila Naqqash, 31, said there was "no way" her family could afford the £100,000 ransom on her son Sahil Saeed's head.
He was snatched on Thursday morning in the Punjab region after his grandmother's house was raided by five robbers.
His father, Raja Naqqash Saeed, said the kidnappers had put a noon deadline on the ransom for his safe return.
The robbers held the family at gunpoint throughout the night after breaking in, said a spokesman for the British High Commission in Islamabad. They eventually fled with the boy and household items, believed to be jewellery and money.
Mr Saeed said robbers armed with guns and hand grenades broke into the house in Jhelum, where the boy was on holiday.
He added: "They took my son. They were fully loaded with guns and hand grenades. All Pakistan police know about this, and the British Council."
Mr Saeed said his members of his family were beaten, slapped and kicked by the robbers during a six-hour ordeal. He said: "They took me into the separate room and they tortured me. They said 'we will take your son and you will have to pay £100,000'."
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Speaking at her home in Oldham, Greater Manchester, Ms Naqqash paid tribute to her "really sweet boy".
She added: "We have got no idea why we were targeted, we don't have any money. There is no way we could raise that money, there is nothing we can do. I would say (to the kidnappers) just why? Why can't you just be a grown person? He is just a little boy. He is just five years old, he was due to come home today. Please don't hurt him.
