THE distraught mum of a five-year-old British boy last night pleaded for his safe return after he was kidnapped by gunmen in Pakistan.

Sahil Saeed was snatched by masked robbers who burst into his gran's home and tortured his father and relatives.

His mum Akila Naqqash later wept as she begged: "He's just a five-year-old boy, a sweet little boy, just bring him back, please."

Probe ... cops at house where Sahil was snatched

Akila, 31, added: "All I can do is pray for him. Just please bring him back, what has he done?"

One man was later arrested by police in Pakistan. He was still being questioned last night.

The Foreign Office said consular staff were in contact with the police, but it was not clear what implications the arrest might have.

Four men brandishing guns and grenades tied up and battered Sahil's family, threatening to kill them as they ransacked the house in a terrifying raid that lasted six hours.

One of the gunmen then shouted a demand for a £100,000 ransom as they dragged the terrified boy away in the early hours of yesterday.

Sobbing ... mum Akila

Sahil's dad Raja Naqqash Saeed said: "They tortured me and said, 'We will take your son now and you will have to pay us £100,000'.

"I told them I don't have that much money. I can't afford that. They took everything off us, they took everything in our house."

The gang fled with £2,100 in cash and gold jewellery, and took Sahil after his father was unable to meet their demands for more.

The gang gave him until midday local time to come up with the ransom, but the deadline passed yesterday - leaving mum Akila frantic with worry back home in Oldham, Greater Manchester.

Pakistani police last night claimed they were close to tracking down Sahil after his abduction in the city of Jhelum, in the Punjab region.

Worry ... dad Raja with lad's passport

The Punjab is a relatively prosperous area, but has been hit by a crimewave sparked by soaring unemployment and economic collapse.

It is believed the robbers targeted Sahil's family - who were visiting a sick relative while on a two-week holiday - because they appeared wealthier than locals.

The family were preparing to leave for the airport to fly home to Britain when the gang pounced.

Akila - who has two daughters Anisha, four, and Hafsah, 21 months - told of her shock when Raja broke the news of Sahil's kidnap.

She said: "His father was hysterical when he rang saying this gang of armed men had burst in and taken Sahil. I am so worried for him."

Akila said Sahil had been enjoying his holiday and last phoned home on Tuesday.

Jhelum ... area in the Punjab region where lad taken

She added: "He was so happy to be there but he said to me, 'I can't wait to have a jacket potato as I'm sick of chapatis'.

"He's a bubbly boy. He is very popular at school. He loves his friends and his teachers.

"He was having such a good time out there, he was excited about going and seeing his grandmother."

Sahil's headteacher at Rushcroft Primary School in Oldham, Jane Sheridan, said: "He's a lovely little boy - always happy, always smiling.

"We're very worried and doing all we can to support Sahil's family."

Staff at the British High Commission in Pakistan's capital Islamabad said they were in touch with Sahil's family and were "continually monitoring the situation".