[Ammi]

A mother reunited with her six-year-old daughter three years after the girl was abducted by her father and taken to Pakistan has said she feels "absolutely overwhelmed" at seeing her again.

Atiya Anjum-Wilkinson disappeared in November 2009 after going to stay with her father, Razwan Ali Anjum.

After being found in Pakistan, Atiya was returned to her mother Gemma Wilkinson in Manchester on Friday.

Ms Wilkinson, 32, said she just wanted to cuddle her daughter.

'Absolutely fine'

Atiya had last been seen when she was taken from her home in Ashton-under-Lyne, Greater Manchester, on her third birthday.

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“
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Atiya was told that I was mummy and she said 'mummy' and smiled”
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Gemma Wilkinson

She was reunited with her mother at a Manchester hotel after being found in a five-week investigation which followed the intervention of North West MEP Sajjad Karim who formally raised her abduction with the foreign minister of Pakistan in the European Parliament.

Ms Wilkinson said: "I'm just absolutely overwhelmed in seeing Atiya now and giving her a cuddle and a massive kiss.

"I did have a few fears that Atiya would be unsettled with the change and the flight but she's absolutely fine. She's trying to communicate and she's playing with the things we've bought for her, she's had a big smile on her face.

"Atiya was told that I was mummy and she said 'mummy' and smiled.

Atiya Anjum-Wilkinson went missing in 2009
"It's more than I could ever imagine or hope for.

"I can't explain that in words, to see her little face and know what she's actually like now, it's very emotional.

"I was very worried that she would either be upset or scared but she hasn't been."

Ms Wilkinson said her daughter looked "exactly the same as she did three years ago; she is just taller and a bit older".

She said: "I believe she is happy to be back, she has a big smile, she's playing nicely, she's talking.

"She will find things strange but she's home and she's loved and we'll take it day by day."

But Det Supt Phil Owen, from Greater Manchester Police's Child Protection Unit, warned that reintegrating Atiya into life with her mother would not be a quick process as she had been away for a long time and did not speak any English.

Extended family

Speaking after Atiya arrived on a flight into Manchester Airport on Friday evening, her mother said the events leading up to the reunion had been a "whirlwind".

She said: "We have gone from not knowing where Atiya is to finding out that we do know where Atiya is, to receiving pictures of Atiya and how she looks now, to Atiya coming here and Atiya actually being here."

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I think my belief was never to give in, it's just been a very long time”
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Gemma Wilkinson

Mr Karim said the authorities in Pakistan had been "absolutely crucial" in finding Atiya and making sure she was returned home

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 MEP said.

"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.

Atiya's mother was informed she had been found on Christmas Day and photographs were sent to her of Atiya by the Pakistani authorities.

Ms Wilkinson, who split with Anjum in 2008, had made several appeals for information to find her daughter.

In her latest appeal last month, she described not knowing if Atiya was even alive as an "absolute nightmare".

Father in jail

Atiya's father Razwan Ali Anjum is serving a prison sentence for refusing to reveal his daughter's whereabouts.

Ms Wilkinson took legal action against her former partner in an attempt to force him to reveal where Atiya was.

In 2009, Anjum had said he was taking Atiya to Southport, but instead he took her to Lahore, Pakistan, and told Ms Wilkinson she would never see her again.

In April, he was handed a 12-month jail term by a High Court judge who found him in contempt of a High Court order instructing him to disclose Atiya's whereabouts.

The sentence was the fourth consecutive jail term to be imposed on Anjum. Judges have previously imposed jail terms of two years, 12 months and 12 months in the hope that he would provide the information which would allow Atiya to be reunited with her mother.

Ms Wilkinson said: "It's just been an absolute nightmare. I think my belief was never to give in, it's just been a very long time."

[SharkAttack]

Very nice to see it end this way, lots of catching up(and learning) to do. The dad, after time served, will most likely have nothing but supervised visitation rights. And even that is too much for what he did.

[AnnieK]

The poor little girl will be so confused in coming days. I feel so happy for her mother that she has been returned as it must have been horrific to lose her daughter like that but The little girl has been through so much. I hope they get lots of help and support to help them all adapt.

[Ammi]

Youtube video

[Kizzy]

What a lovely heartwarming story, we don't get enough happy endings in the news.
I'm so happy for them

[Kazanne]

About time, a nice story to end the year.

[Marc]

What a powerful story

[Marc]

I bet she'll never want to leave her side, bless.

[Nedusa]

This mans arrogance and stupidity have backfired on him big time. He has succeeded in nothing other than getting himself imprisoned and killing any chances he thought he may of had with his daughter.

What makes people think they have the right to play around with other people's lives and decide where they live, how they live and how they are brought up and who they can see or not see. I hope this man learns his lesson and that one day he may be able to re-engage in some sort of relationship with his daughter..

[Marcus.]

awww happy ending

Everyone loves a happy ending.

[Marcus.]

Originally Posted by Jesus.H.Christ

Everyone loves a happy ending.

it warm your heart