THE Pakistani government has reassured five-year-old Sahil Saeed's father that his son will be returned to him 'within 48 hours' as the police were said to be closing in on the kidnappers.
The promise came as four members of the police's emergency response unit were suspended for failing to react swiftly enough.
"I asked Rehman Malik, the interior minister, what was happening to my son. He said that he was not allowed to tell me anything further. It's for the safety of my son that he could not give more details," Mr Saeed added.
Mr Malik was equally coy.
"We have certain leads," he said, in a joint appearance with Mr Saeed.
"But a warning to those abductors: leave the boy because we are very near you."
Source: Irish Independent