The family of a businessman feared kidnapped in Pakistan has made a desperate plea for his safe return. Salman Sabir, 29, whose brother and fiancée live in Bradford, vanished in Karachi 11 days ago. His mobile phone has since then been dead and his relatives are desperate for news.
Sabir, a clothing importer, spends his time between Bradford and Pakistan. He disappeared after arranging a business meeting on April 21. Sabir has bought a house in Bradford and plans to live here after his marriage.
The Telegraph & Argus reported on Wednesday that his fiancée Noreen Akhtar, 27, of Aygill Avenue, Heaton, spoke to him by phone the day before he disappeared. Sharfuddin Memon, of the Citizen-Police Liaison Committee in Karachi, who is leading the investigation in Karachi, said according to report that Sabir's disappearance was a mystery.
"I am working on the case and meeting the family every day," he said. So far no call had come through and we are not sure it was a kidnap for ransom, he added.
"He was with his uncle when he was dropped off by his driver. We do not know exactly where the meeting was. It is not very clear what has happened to him. Kidnapping does go on here but not much. It was a problem in the early 1990s but not so often now - and not this way," Memon said. He added that inquiries had not uncovered any business rivalry or jealousy surrounding Sabir. Salman's sister-in-law said, "Salman doesn't have any enemies. His family is well-respected business people."
"The police in Karachi say we believe he has been kidnapped for ransom, however we are looking for him but it may take time," she said. "There is no word from his captors and his phone is dead," she said. Zahid Iqbal, prospective parliamentary candidate for the Conservatives in the Bradford West constituency, has known the family for several years. He is trying to put pressure on the police and army in Pakistan to pull out all the stops to find Mr Sabir.
Iqbal has written to the Pakistani High Commissioner in London, Dr Maleeha Lodhi, telling her of the family's distress and asking her to intervene. He has also spoken to Shadow Trade and Industry Secretary Alan Duncan who has close links with Pakistan.