THE mother of tragic teenager Sajjad Mahmood today wept as she described the moment her first grandson was born -- four years to the day after she buried her son.
Little Ismaeel Mahmood was born on April 13 -- the same date heartbroken Nighat Mahmood cried uncontrollably as she buried 18-year-old Sajjad three weeks after he first vanished from the family home in Princess Street, Accrington, in 1998.
The child's mother, Marjam Mahmood, was due have married Sajjad just weeks after he died. She has since married one of Sajjad's four younger brothers, Abdul, in an arranged marriage.
Sajjad's body was found in Hagg Lodge, near to the town's Asda store in Hyndburn Road, 10 days after he went missing.
The discovery came after Mrs Mahmood repeatedly told the police where her son's body was and after police eventually searched woodland and waterways in Hyndburn for clues.
He had been beaten up by local drug dealers operating from a house in Princess Street, Accrington, and thrown into the lodge. The trio, James Butler, Wayne Kelly and Karl Barton were later jailed in connection with the case.
Sajjad's family, including his father Arshad Mahmood, were furious because local police failed to take immediate action for over a week. An inspector and sergeant involved in investigating the case have been disciplined by police.
But the family's continual sadness -- which has forced Mrs Mahmood to spend all but two months of the last two years living in her native Pakistan -- has been touched by happiness after the birth of Mrs Mahmood's first grandson.
Today, as she cradled Ismaeel in her arms at the family home in Charter Street, Mrs Mahmood said: "I will always cry for my son on the day I buried him, but I can also smile because of the joy our Lord has given us.
"It was just coincidence he was born on the same day I buried Sajjad. It is something I have never been able to come to terms with."
Two of the officers who initially dealt with Mrs Mahmood were this week given formal reprimands by police chiefs after a four-year probe into the handling of the case which has involved officers from neighbouring authorities, the Crown Prosecution Service and the Police Complaints Authority.
Mrs Mahmood is now taking legal advice to see if she can take any further action against the police after describing herself as 'distressed' by the decision to only reprimand two officers.
She added: "Since the trial, I have spent just two months in this country. I cannot stand to be here but I must try and stay here for my family."
In the family's living room is a large picture of Sajjad, receiving his Record of Achievement -- like a school CV -- from Hyndburn MP Greg Pope when he left high school.
Mrs Mahmood said: "That picture is how I remember my son. He was bright, charming and about to get married."
"He had so much to live for."
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