really surprised there is no thread about the 5 yo British boy kidnapped in Pakistan.

[wannaBe]

Sorry - unable to copy/paste links atm.

But basically the house was broken into, the family were beaten and went through a six hour ordeal before the kidnappers left with the child who was on holiday with his father.

They are demanding a £100000 randsome.

Yep but don't you find it very interesting that there's been loads in the media but very little interest on a forum for parents. No?

Nothing to do with journalists - they are very interested. And UK media coverage is very unlikely to influence the investigation in Pakistan.

I think that this thread hasn't degenerated into a shouting match is very telling.

Memo. If you are going to get kidnapped, make sure you're white, preferably blond and middle class. Oh, and try and ensure that you come from the South of England

I think this a very very serious case - the police said they were hopeful that they'd get him back within 24 hours. It hasn't happened has it?

Poor Sahil. I cannot imagine the horror for this little boy.

It was reported today that the parents' marriage was in deep trouble, that father had taken son tpo Pakistan and he had also taken mother's passport (now..why would he do that? so mum cah=n't come after them? Why shouldn't she?) and that there were also rumours that he'd been thinking about living in pakistan with his son permanently. hmmmmmmmmm ...that sounds a bit too much of a coincidence.
As for "it wasn't reported" having to do anything with racisn=m, I can't really believe that. What's the point in sending hundreds of journalists to Pakistan, maybe there aren't so many journai=lists that speak urdu. Or maybe there wern't too many journalists keen to fly to a place whre people get abducted by violent thugs. In Shannon Matthew's case, that was in England, where you can speak English and no journalist had to fear to be abducted because of being "wealthy" British. I really
don't think race plays a role. When the white, British couple were abducted in Somalia, there weren't hundreds of journalists flown out so Somalia either - because it's not safe there. So it seems the amount of coverage depends a bit on where it happens, not what background they are.

the difference between pakistan and Portugal though is that portugal is full of holiday resorts full of British tourists. And thousands of them fly back to the UK every day, so much easier for press to meet the flight from whichever air port was closest to the resort and interview tourists "have you been staying at Mark Warner? oh do you have comment on...?" iyswim, and for journalists to fly over (it's a two hour flight) or to even drive across the border if need be.

Haven't read any of the speculation in the press but A, if your marriage to a foreign national was in trouble would you be agreeing for him to take your child to his country of origin? and B, if he'd taken the mum's passport with him would she not have raised the alarm before now?

If the speculation is true then yes, it puts a very different slant on the case. However taking someone's passport doesn't make it impossible for that someone to travel, new passports can be issued, and if the welfare of a child was at steak I'd imagine the issue of such a passport could be rushed through..

Whilst working as a Cop in Birmingham in the 80s and 90s, I sadly dealt with many Kasmiri and Pakistani Domestic problems. It was usually about marriages that had been arranged on a childs birth, but 20 yrs later a participant renaged on the contract. This caused terrible problems of violence, Kidnapping, Hostage taking in here and also at the same time Pakistan, and tragically Murder. I can remember a 14 yr old child being released from a seconds cousins car boot on the M6 north, because her family had decided she wasnt going to marry him. This 5 year old is innocent pawn. I hope everything comes out ok for poor child....I am afraid that some amongst the pakistani community still treat women as Pawns and mens chattels.

I think a lot of people on here have misunderstood whats been going on...Fact the mother of the child was born in Britain....The husband via an arranged marriage was a distant relative possibly a second cousin born in Pakistan......The father took the child with him to see a sick relative in his homeland...But he left his british born wife and other Children in England. He however took his wifes passport to prevent her following him....That appears to be strange to me ?

Yep, and I'd say that's very odd - I also thought it strange that when this incident happened he called his BROTHER and not his wife and his brother's wife was sent to tell the mother of sahil.

Yep, thought it bloody odd - I hope Sahil is OK and that little Sahil gets home safely to his mother.

But at the same time I very much stand by my point that there has been lots of media interest - yet pitifully nothing on MN. I'm gobsmacked quite honestly.

I'd love one of the MN biggies (ie the ones who rule this place) to tell me that I'm out of order and got it all wrong - still waiting.

All quiet on the western front!

That poor poor Mum, it does sounds like the little boy is probably fine and probably being looked after by distant family or friends.

It does all seem suspicious like parental kidnap.

What's the link on the father having taken the mother's passport. Am googling but cannot find a thing.

There is no evidence at all for this being anything but a genuine kidnapping - or if there is it hasn't appeared on the news or if if did I missed it. People are making assumptions based on their perceptions of what people from Pakistan are like and it's outrageous.

Only on here would people be arguing over whether there is enough people posting about it! Yet, in the next breath elsewhere there is probably a thread whinging that people do post such news stories.

Why the vitriol? with some posters?

A 5 year old little boy is missing.
As far as we know, he has been kidnapped by strangers and his parents do not know where he is.

Surely that information alone should mean that we all just hope for the best, and hope he is found soon.

the rumours, the media bashing, the racism card, the class card, etc. can all be dealt with later if and when it is found any are infact the case.

giveitago - other than commenting to say we hope he is found, what do you want people to do? Have some massive debate over several threads and several days trying to find out why he is missing and laying all sorts of blame on his family and friends? And if everyone did that - they''d be slammed on MN anyway.

Well Hulababy I'm just very shocked that similar stories have had lots of posts - this has had almost none on a forum for mothers.

That speaks volumes to me actually.

I'm desperately searching for updates from and normally mn is the place to come get them - zero here.

So who's playing racism card, class card etc? God kiows - but I always find this place great for more info and links. But not in this case.

Not about blaming, conspiracy theories etc. but thers's nothing. Do you not find that very odd. I'll check on the news - bound to be something - very big news actually.

"A 5 year old little boy is missing.
As far as we know, he has been kidnapped by strangers and his parents do not know where he is.

Surely that information alone should mean that we all just hope for the best, and hope he is found soon."

And usually MN has a big outpouring of hoping for the best etc. I and a few others find the silence here quite odd.

Having now read the most recent reports for myself rather than relying on the reports of posters above I agree it seems a genuine kidnapping in which was I really hope he is found very soon and is safe

Yes cargirl - I haven't bought a paper today and feel cut off from the media and I'm thinking - this ain't good.

Sahil is 5 years old - I can't imagine what family are going through.

I agree, giveitago. Where are the pages of good wishes and hope and loving messages to the parents?

I keep looking for updates but there are none so far. That poor little boy must be so frightened. I hope he is found safe very soon.

This poor little boy - whatever the situation (and I have no reason to believe it ain't genuine) he will be terrified and lonely, wanting his mother. I really hope he is returned to his family very soon.

Not even in the headlines any more. Can't decide whether I am more depressed or angry.

not sure what there is left to say though.

The police don't seem to have any leads, the suggestion is that someone in or close to the family was involved.

My money would be on a news black out being imposed.