ISLAMABAD // Osama bin Laden's family is expected to be deported from Pakistan early tomorrow, their lawyer and an intelligence official said today.
The former Al Qaeda leader's three widows and their children were detained by the Pakistani authorities after he was killed in a US Navy Seal operation in Abbottabad last May.
The news came as Washington and Islamabad try to patch up their relationship, which was badly damaged after the world's most wanted man was found a stone's throw from Pakistan's elite military academy.
Two weeks ago a court sentenced the widows and two of bin Laden's older daughters to 45 days' detention on charges of illegal entry and residency in Pakistan and ordered their deportation as soon as possible. They were given credit for time served after they were arrested on March 3.
They served their sentence in an Islamabad villa designated by authorities as a "sub-jail".
"They will go tonight or tomorrow early in the morning. After 12 tonight they can be deported any time," their lawyer Mohammad Aamir said today.
Mr Aamir said the family - which includes bin Laden's three widows, eight children and one grandchild - would probably initially go to Saudi Arabia.
He said bin Laden's youngest and reportedly favourite wife, Amal Abdulfattah, who is Yemeni, may be sent to Yemen afterwards with her five children.
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Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
The Buckingham Murders
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Director: Hansal Mehta
Rating: 4 / 5
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RESULT
Al Hilal 4 Persepolis 0
Khribin (31', 54', 89'), Al Shahrani 40'
Red card: Otayf (Al Hilal, 49')
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Brief scores:
Toss: South Africa, chose to field
Pakistan: 177 & 294
South Africa: 431 & 43-1
Man of the Match: Faf du Plessis (South Africa)
Series: South Africa lead three-match series 2-0
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The Penguin
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Creator: Lauren LeFranc
Rating: 4/5
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English Premiership semi-finals
Saracens 57
Wasps 33
Exeter Chiefs 36
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A cheaper choice
Vanuatu: $130,000
Why on earth pick Vanuatu? Easy. The South Pacific country has no income tax, wealth tax, capital gains or inheritance tax. And in 2015, when it was hit by Cyclone Pam, it signed an agreement with the EU that gave it some serious passport power.
Cost: A minimum investment of $130,000 for a family of up to four, plus $25,000 in fees.
Criteria: Applicants must have a minimum net worth of $250,000. The process take six to eight weeks, after which the investor must travel to Vanuatu or Hong Kong to take the oath of allegiance. Citizenship and passport are normally provided on the same day.
Benefits: No tax, no restrictions on dual citizenship, no requirement to visit or reside to retain a passport. Visa-free access to 129 countries.
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