Osama's brother-in-law asks Pak Chief Justice to help in release of sister, family

Islamabad, Feb 14 (ANI): Killed al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden's brother-in-law has written to the Chief Justice of Pakistan to seek the release of his sister from the grip of Pakistani authorities.

After failing to seek a response from the security establishment, Zakaria Ahmad al-Sadah has written to Chief Justice Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry, requesting his direct interference for securing the release of Amal al-Sadah, his sister and Bin Laden's widow, The Dawn reports.

In the letter, Zakaria has reportedly termed the disappearance of Bin Laden's family as "illegal."

Bin Laden's family has been held captive by "Pakistani authorities for eight months," Zakaria has written in his plea.

Ever since the operation by US Navy SEALS that killed Bin Laden, 16 members of his family have disappeared. Amal (Bin Laden's fifth wife) and her five children are Yemeni nationals, while the other family members of Saudi nationality.

During his trip to Pakistan last November, Zakaria was supposed to meet with his sister on two occasions and take her (and her children) back to Yemen, but his attempt remained unsuccessful.

Zakaria, who is a student of journalism at Sana'a University, has said in his letter that he hopes the chief justice will be able to stop any "oppression" against his sister and her children.

Last October, the commission probing the operation against Bin Laden and his stay in Pakistan had announced that travel restrictions on the family members had been lifted, but Zakaria thoroughly refuted such claims. (ANI)