A Bradford student who disappeared from his home a fortnight ago with £3,000 is believed to have taken a flight to Pakistan, it was revealed today.

Police investigating the disappearance of Abdullah Habib, 24, have told his family he flew from Manchester Airport to Karachi on October 16 - the day he was reported missing.

Abdullah, originally from a town near Islamabad, Pakistan, had been living with his brother Moham- med Khan in Charnwood Grove, Undercliffe, for a year and still had another year to go before graduating in electrical engineering at the University of Bradford. His family originally feared he had been kidnapped and held captive or that he might have been involved in a fight.

But after hearing the latest news, Mr Khan said: "It now seems more likely he has run away - the same way a frightened child might do.

"It's hard to guess what's caused him to do this. I know he was afraid of his father who is very strict and he might have run away.

"Maybe he had already spent the money he had to submit for his university fees which was due for the next semester, or maybe he was worried he was not doing well on his course. We have checked the university records and it looks like he was struggling. These are only guesses.

"We still fear he may be in some trouble in Karachi because Pakistan is not a rich country and we think he had his university fees - £3,000 - with him."

His father Akhtar Zamun Khan had been due to fly to the UK this week to join the search for his son, but has now cancelled his flight.

Abdullah's mother and father are said to be relieved that Abdullah appears to be alive, but are "shocked and depressed" that he has not been in touch for two weeks.

Mr Khan said: "He took a one-way ticket but we would like him to come back and finish his studies.

"He did say a few times that he didn't like it here and preferred Pakistan."

A spokesman for West Yorkshire Police said that after making inquiries at airports they could confirm that Abdullah had left the country.

There were no suspicious circumstances and the police were no longer treating him as a missing person.

e-mail: will.kilner@bradford.newsquest.co.uk