Mother's tearful 'abduction' plea
Louise Campbell broke down as she spoke of her daughter

The mother of a 12-year-old girl suspected to have been abducted from the Western Isles has made a tearful plea for her to come home.
A police search for Molly Campbell, also known as Misbah Iram Ahmed Rana, has switched its focus to Pakistan.

She was thought to have been taken to Lahore after flying out of Scotland with her older sister and father.

Molly's mother Louise Campbell appealed to Sajed Ahmed Rana, her former husband, to return her to Lewis.

Ms Campbell appeared pale and tearful at a press conference called by police in Stornoway.

She said Friday's events had left her devastated and she was finding it difficult to come to terms with what had happened.

We would appeal to Molly's father, sister and family to make sure she returns to us as her absence has left a huge gap in our lives
Louise Campbell

Reading from a statement, she said: "I would like to say to Molly we miss her so much and has to know she is not any trouble."
Ms Campbell, who moved to Lewis from Stranraer nine months ago, added: "We would appeal to Molly's father, sister and family to make sure she returns to us as her absence has left a huge gap in our lives."

Police confirmed that someone who they believe to be Molly made contact with police in Stornoway on Saturday.

They notified Ms Campbell, but did not know where the call was made from.

It was also confirmed that Molly met her father on Thursday during a visit to Stornoway.

Molly was last seen in the grounds of her school, the Nicolson Institute on Friday afternoon.

Police said the girl left school with her 18-year-old sister, Tahmina, and was taken to Stornoway Airport from where she flew to Glasgow.

There, her father Sajed Ahmed Rana, who had flown from Glasgow to Stornoway and back again on Thursday, joined the two girls and it is understood they boarded a flight for his home town, Lahore.

Police are anxious to reunite Molly with her mother, who is her legal guardian, and have asked Pakistani police for help.

Legal protocol

Denise Carter, director of international child abduction centre Reunite, said Pakistan was one of the countries they had most involvement with.

She said: "We deal with 300 to 400 new abductions every single year and the cases with Pakistan are actually increasing."

Ms Carter said the UK and Pakistan were signed up to a legal protocol under which Molly's mother could apply for her return.

Western Isles councillor Ian Macleod, who has met the family, said there was widespread concern in the community.

He said: "It is certainly a community that is small but tight-knit.

"We will certainly offer any support we can and I am also aware that there is an ongoing police investigation."

Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/scotland/highlands_and_islands/5294498.stm

Published: 2006/08/29 16:28:23 GMT

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