Manchester United send signed jersey to Pakistani man tortured by Taliban for 5 years

Shahbaz's father, the Governor of Punjab, had been shot dead seven months before his capture for standing up against the inhuman blasphemy laws that the country practices following the stoning to death of a Christian woman. The family received a second blow when he was kidnapped in the midst of a drive down Lahore city.

(Also read- Sri Lanka asked to remove flag from Lord's balcony after protest against no-ball)

Taseer, in his early thirties, was tortured from the fourth month of captivity by his Uzbek captors. But, he managed to endure the ordeal by following the journey of his favorite team Manchester United by radio that one of his captors, also a United fan, managed to sneak in for him.

"For me, it was a window to the outside world. Getting soccer news kept me sane," Taseer wrote in Pakistan's Daily Times newspaper.

On Saturday he tweeted a picture of himself wearing the famous red shirt, expressing his jubilation.

"OMG @ManUtd just sent me this!!!," he wrote. "I'm in shock! Thank you boys!," he added, expressing his gratitude to the squad members who signed the shirt.

OMG just sent me this!!!

— Shahbaz Taseer (@ShahbazTaseer)

Taseer has also managed to light up his Twitter account with funny replies to curious folks joking even about his captivity.

I'm in shock! Thank you boys!

— Shahbaz Taseer (@ShahbazTaseer)

These Indian kids can create footballing history, but they need your help. You can help Slum Soccer send 20 of our most talented footballers to represent INDIA at the Homeless World Cup at Glasgow. Click here to know more.