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Atiya Anjum-Wilkinson being returned from Pakistan | Atiya Anjum-Wilkinson being returned from Pakistan |
(about 5 hours later) | |
A six-year-old girl who was abducted by her father and taken to Pakistan three years ago is on her way back to the UK. | A six-year-old girl who was abducted by her father and taken to Pakistan three years ago is on her way back to the UK. |
Atiya Anjum-Wilkinson was last seen when she was taken from her home in Ashton-under-Lyne, Greater Manchester, on her third birthday in 2009. | Atiya Anjum-Wilkinson was last seen when she was taken from her home in Ashton-under-Lyne, Greater Manchester, on her third birthday in 2009. |
Her father Razwan Ali Anjum is serving a prison sentence for refusing to reveal his daughter's whereabouts despite a court order. | Her father Razwan Ali Anjum is serving a prison sentence for refusing to reveal his daughter's whereabouts despite a court order. |
Police said Atiya would return to the UK from Pakistan at about 19:15 GMT. | |
North West MEP Sajjad Karim said he had received confirmation just before noon that her flight had taken off. | North West MEP Sajjad Karim said he had received confirmation just before noon that her flight had taken off. |
He told the BBC the authorities in Pakistan had been "absolutely crucial" in finding Atiya and making sure she was returned home. | He told the BBC the authorities in Pakistan had been "absolutely crucial" in finding Atiya and making sure she was returned home. |
Four jail terms | Four jail terms |
"They only had the matter raised with them a few weeks ago, when I raised it with the foreign minister of Pakistan in the European Parliament," he said. | "They only had the matter raised with them a few weeks ago, when I raised it with the foreign minister of Pakistan in the European Parliament," he said. |
"The authorities located Atiya, they monitored the address where she was and eventually moved in and informed the people she was living with - who are the extended family of the father - that she would have to return to the UK. | "The authorities located Atiya, they monitored the address where she was and eventually moved in and informed the people she was living with - who are the extended family of the father - that she would have to return to the UK. |
"There wasn't any resistance by them. Atiya was found to be in a fit and healthy state and was well at the time. She was certainly being kept well." | "There wasn't any resistance by them. Atiya was found to be in a fit and healthy state and was well at the time. She was certainly being kept well." |
The BBC's Aleem Maqbool said Atiya was found in the village of Daska, near Sialkot in eastern Pakistan. | |
Mr Karim said the authorities provided photographs of Atiya which were sent to her mother, Gemma Wilkinson, on Christmas Day. | Mr Karim said the authorities provided photographs of Atiya which were sent to her mother, Gemma Wilkinson, on Christmas Day. |
Ms Wilkinson, 32, of Ashton-under-Lyne, whose relationship with Anjum ended in 2008, has made several appeals for information to find her daughter. | Ms Wilkinson, 32, of Ashton-under-Lyne, whose relationship with Anjum ended in 2008, has made several appeals for information to find her daughter. |
The latest was last month, when she said not knowing Atiya was even alive was an "absolute nightmare". | The latest was last month, when she said not knowing Atiya was even alive was an "absolute nightmare". |
Ms Wilkinson took legal action against her former partner in an attempt to force him to reveal her whereabouts. | Ms Wilkinson took legal action against her former partner in an attempt to force him to reveal her whereabouts. |
Courts have been told Anjum said he was taking Atiya to Southport, but instead took her to Lahore, Pakistan, and told Ms Wilkinson that she would never see her again. | Courts have been told Anjum said he was taking Atiya to Southport, but instead took her to Lahore, Pakistan, and told Ms Wilkinson that she would never see her again. |
The former insurance salesman was handed a fourth consecutive jail term by a High Court judge in April after he refused to reveal where his daughter was. | The former insurance salesman was handed a fourth consecutive jail term by a High Court judge in April after he refused to reveal where his daughter was. |
Mr Justice Moor imposed a 12-month prison sentence after he found him in contempt of a High Court order instructing him to disclose Atiya's whereabouts. | Mr Justice Moor imposed a 12-month prison sentence after he found him in contempt of a High Court order instructing him to disclose Atiya's whereabouts. |
Anjum indicated that Atiya was in Pakistan or Iran but said he did not know her exact whereabouts. | Anjum indicated that Atiya was in Pakistan or Iran but said he did not know her exact whereabouts. |
The judge said: "I am certain that he is in contempt. It is absolutely absurd for him to suggest that he does not know the whereabouts of his daughter and he cannot contact her. | The judge said: "I am certain that he is in contempt. It is absolutely absurd for him to suggest that he does not know the whereabouts of his daughter and he cannot contact her. |
"I am certain he is lying." | "I am certain he is lying." |
Another judge has previously said the case was "as bad a case of child abduction as I have encountered". | Another judge has previously said the case was "as bad a case of child abduction as I have encountered". |
Speaking ahead of Atiya's sixth birthday, Ms Wilkinson said: "It's been an absolute nightmare. | Speaking ahead of Atiya's sixth birthday, Ms Wilkinson said: "It's been an absolute nightmare. |
"As to her whereabouts we know nothing. We've had no contact. I'm worrying every day, every single day. Everything is affected by it." | "As to her whereabouts we know nothing. We've had no contact. I'm worrying every day, every single day. Everything is affected by it." |
She added: "It's ongoing, it's been three years of trauma and nightmares. I can't sleep at night. I just want to know she's OK, she's being looked after. | She added: "It's ongoing, it's been three years of trauma and nightmares. I can't sleep at night. I just want to know she's OK, she's being looked after. |
"We haven't celebrated her birthday since she went missing but I've bought her presents each year - they are waiting for her to open when she comes home. | "We haven't celebrated her birthday since she went missing but I've bought her presents each year - they are waiting for her to open when she comes home. |
"I had no reason to believe that she was at any risk. There had been a standard routine, there hadn't been any problems with the arrangements." | "I had no reason to believe that she was at any risk. There had been a standard routine, there hadn't been any problems with the arrangements." |
Police published a computer-generated image of what Atiya might look like now a day before her sixth birthday in November. | Police published a computer-generated image of what Atiya might look like now a day before her sixth birthday in November. |