The father of a schoolgirl who left Scotland for Pakistan amid abduction fears said he had sympathy for her mother and would do all he could to keep her in touch with the child.
Twelve-year-old Molly Campbell, who says she now wishes to be known as Misbah Iram Ahmed Rana, disappeared from her home in the Scottish Western Isles more than a week ago.
A massive investigation was launched after it emerged she had flown to Pakistan with her sister and father. Misbah later told how she left Scotland and her mother Louise Campbell of her own free will, and wants to remain in Pakistan indefinitely.
As a potential custody battle looms, her father Sajad Ahmed Rana said Mrs Campbell was a good mother to Misbah and her siblings but didn't accept their Islamic faith.
This led to her rejection of their other three children, he claimed.
He told Sky News: "I do have sympathy for her mother. She was a very nice mother to my children and she gave them a good upbringing until she took not well."
Mr Rana said the family split after Mrs Campbell rejected Islam and expected her children to do the same. They did not accept that, he said.
But the father said she was welcome to visit the family.
He said in the interview: "She's most welcome to come to Pakistan. We will assist her security, we will pay for her expenses. She can come as many times as she likes to see Misbah here in Pakistan. I will do whatever I can for my children to keep in touch with their mother but their mother has to respond and has to acknowledge the other three children who she has rejected."
Mrs Campbell and Mr Rana, who were divorced in 2001, are understood to be preparing for a legal battle to secure long-term custody of the girl.
