Osama's family petitions Pak SC for release of youngest wife

Family of Osama bin Laden's youngest wife, shot in the knees in the daring raid by US navy SEALS, has petitioned Pakistan's Chief Justice seeking release and that of her children from Pakistani authorities.

The petition on behalf of Laden's Yemeni wife Amal Ahmede al-Sadah was moved by her brother citing that his sister's five children were in poor mental health and receiving no education, the Guardian reported.

The brother told the court that Amal could not walk as her leg wound was not treated properly. Laden's wife was shot after apparently trying to shield him during the US raid on their Abottabad hideout.

The paper said the entire Osama family found in the house have been in Pakistani custody, at a secret location since the May 2 raid last year.

"Osama bin Laden's family who passed upon their illegal disappearance in Pakistan more than eight months with Pakistani authority despite their innocence. Their detention is against all human rights and laws in the world", the petition written in broken English said.

The petition said that the children were traumatised.

Amal 31 from Yemen married Bin Laden in 2000. Their eldest child Safia is around 12 and the other children are aged between 3 and 8.

Two other wives of Laden, both Saudis, who also lived in Abottabad are also being held along with four of his grandchildren.

The brother in his petition said that the repatriation only awaited the signature of interior minister Rehman Malik. But Guardian said that Laden's family are not being held by civilian authorities, but are in the custody of the military spy agency ISI.