LEIGH MP Andy Burnham is lobbying at the highest level to get an abducted schoolgirl - thought to be in war-torn Afghanistan - brought home to her mother.

Mr Burnham met with foreign office minister Baroness Valerie Amos in London this week to push a campaign to bring seven-year-old Zira Pervaiz home to her mum Vicky of Dale Street, Leigh.

Three years ago Zira was abducted by her father, Sajid Pervaiz, and was sent to Pakistan.

Sajid Pervaiz is currently serving a four year prison sentence for abducting his daughter.

But Zira has still not returned to her mum and it is rumoured she may now be living with her uncles in Afghanistan.

Illegally

Baroness Amos has special responsibility for Pakistan and Mr Burnham spoke to the Journal about their meeting: "I asked the minister if she would press the Pakistan Authorities to the highest level to do more and to ask the police force to take down the people who are holding Zira illegally."

Mr Burnham said he also asked the minister to press the British Console and the British Embassy staff to keep in regular touch with the family and to pass on any news at all.

He said: "She agreed to all these things but she did stress that there was a limit to what we can do."

The MP for Leigh said the situation was "extremely worrying" and that Zira belonged in Leigh.

Mr Burnham said: "It's bad enough that she was taken at such a young age to another country that she didn't know anything about. What was going through her mind must have been terrible.

"The International situation just makes it all worse.

"She belongs here and we just have to find a way to bring her home with the minimal possible delay."