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Saudi Arabia refuses to accept Osama’s family
Officials blame al Qaeda for killing of Saudi diplomat, grenade attack.
Officials blame al Qaeda for killing of Saudi diplomat, grenade attack. PHOTO: AFP
ISLAMABAD:
Saudi Arabia has flatly refused to accept the three widows and nine children of Osama Bin Laden, who are currently in protective custody in Islamabad, The Express Tribune has learnt.
Bin Laden’s family was detained by Pakistani authorities for questioning after the al Qaeda godfather was killed in the May 2 top-secret operation by the US special forces in Abbottabad.
Interior Minister Rehman Malik, during his recent visit to Riyadh, had formally requested the Saudi authorities to accept Bin Laden’s family, a highly-placed source said. The Saudis said that Bin Laden had been stripped of Saudi citizenship more than 15 years ago.
The Pakistani request came after the Yemeni government refused to accept Amal Abdulfattah, one of the three widows of Bin Laden and her five children – as its citizens.
Bin Laden was stripped of his Saudi citizenship in 1994 after he criticised the royal family’s reliance on US troops to protect it after the Iraqi invasion of neighbouring Kuwait.
In a related development, Pakistani investigators have established links between Monday’s killing of a Saudi diplomat in Karachi with the kingdom’s refusal to accept Bin Laden’s family, officials told The Express Tribune.
“The Saudi diplomat’s murder was a mark of protest by al Qaeda against the Saudi’s indifferent attitude towards Bin laden’s family who have been subjected to interrogation by the United States,” an investigation official said.
“It was also a demonstration of their solidarity with Bin Laden’s family and a warning to Pakistan against the possible extradition of the family to the US,’’ he added.
The official said that investigators have found evidence of al Qaeda’s involvement in Monday’s murder of the Saudi diplomat and an early grenade attack on the Saudi mission in Karachi. He added that a local militant outfit aided al Qaeda in the two attacks.
The assertion was corroborated by Interior Minister Rehman Malik who said on Tuesday that al Qaeda’s involvement in the Saudi diplomat’s killing was undoubted.
Meanwhile, Malik announced a reward of Rs5 million for anyone providing information about the killers of the Saudi diplomat.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 19th, 2011.
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Reader Comments (44)
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I really admire Pakistan government for being so tricky with all sorts of World Powers trying to take them over…..how long can this last however. I also really admire Pakistani people for being so politically aware and active to object to a lot of this crap. best of luck to a country I loved from the day I set foot on it in 1978. Old lady in Oregon USARecommend
Well I guess we’re stuck with them now just like we got stuck with the Afghan refugees thirty years ago.Recommend
Why should any rich country accept its garbage back in their own country? Everything dirty, filthy and dangerous is dumped in Pakistan. Saudi Arabia produces Salafi/Wahabi terrorists and ships them to Pakistan to wage Jehad against main stream Muslims of Pakistan. It is not surprising that over 35 thousand of Pakistanis have been brutally killed at the hands of these terrorists and their madarsa offspring suicide bombers.
What Pakistani army has sowed is what poor ordinary Pakistanis are receiving. The chickens have come home to roast. Recommend
what!! if his own country doesn’t accept him,then why the hell was he allowed to live in our country for 5 years.
why do we try to be more loyal to the throne than the king himself.Must we try desperately to prove how good a muslim we are at every chance we get,must we include ‘mashallah’ ,’inshallah’ in every sentence we utter.
we are pakistanis ,not arabs.We always used to say ‘khuda hafiz’, why have we started saying ‘allah hafiz’? my national language is urdu not arabic.Why must my sisters or wife be forced to wear the abaya to prove how good a muslima she is ?Recommend
They don’t accept this filth,but we are over eager to act as the dustbin of the world,gleefully taking in any & all religious terrorists whose own countries disown them.
why don’t our GHAIRATMAND anchors scream for these arab,persian,chechen,uzbek foreigners to be thrown out of our country?? why only non-muslim foreigners to be thrown out?? why not the arab religious terrorists?Recommend
If england/afghanistan can accept Altaf and Bramdagh Bugti, why cant Saudia accept a harmless “family”!? Recommend
If this is true news then shame on Saudi and Yemen Govt to act like in this way.. If they can not accept and protect their own citizens (woman & kids) .. I think now it is nessary for ARAB people to throw out their KINGS /RULERS in Arabian sea to support America for saving their KINGDOM..Recommend
@Lol!:
Bravo!Recommend
What is this nonsense from Saudis??? If they can’t keep this noxious family, they should send them somewhere on their own. If that is not possible, this family should be charged with and imprisoned for good for violating Pakistani laws and for living in the country without residency visa. But wait I wonder if any such law even exists considering the country has become the abode of arabs, uzbek, 3 million afghanis, chechans wechans, “Indian-Pakistanis” and god knows who else. Enough with enjoying this “hospitality.” Pakistan is for Pakistanis; if you are not one LEAVE, and don’t let the door hit you on the way out! Recommend
Why can’t they live in the same compound where OBL was found?Recommend
We are also Humans, let’s keep them here and give them Pakistani Citizenship. And show them we are not only nationalists we care for the Muslim Ummah.We are not just Pakistanis but we are Muslims.I know someone will respond to this comment start the terrorist crap again. But i am not talking about terrorist just to clarify i am talking about Muslims.And who can’t live with Muslims in this country from other Languages and Casts can go and live in the west. This country was made for MUSLIMS. . Recommend
Send them to any EU country; they are hot on human right issues.Recommend
Vienna,19-05-2011
Why not to the U.S. that made them orphans after all.
_Kulamarva BalakrishnaRecommend
All these Saudi/Yemeni nationals staying in Pakistan without proper Visa, spreading hatred amongst Pakistanis is a violation of Pakistan’t Sovereignity?
Where is now Foreign Secretary Salman Bashir brandishing threats that “if anyother country tried to Paksitan’s sovereignity would be met with catastrophic consequences?”
Pray, What precisely now he is going to do to Yemen and Saudi Arabia pls?Recommend
These innocent people should not be handed over to U.S. agencies for any criminal interrogation. Instead, they should be given a chance to settle respectfully in any peaceful environment otherwise we will not be doing justice to them. Besides, many countries provide political refugee status to many citizens of the world, would these human beings be refused global citizens common human right to lead their lives peacefully or lead a terrorist life? Choice is yours. Recommend
What a shameful act from Saudia and Yamen, these are their nationals. OBL was a criminal and national of SA, if they have stripped him from the nationality then where his family suppose to go? They were living in Pakistan illegally, now they have been found and must return to their country. Recommend
This is inhuman. why would a family suffer the deed of one of it’s member. What wrong the other innocents did apart from supporting family member in thick or thin. I wish well for the family members, innocents should be forgiven, protected and nurtured so they become a better human tomorrow. I wish my own country could grant them asylum. But I am sure, god willing they will find a better home. I sincerely pray they do. Recommend
this report is not final and we are still in talks with our arab brothersRecommend
Try China.Recommend
So what happened to Muslim Brotherhood? that they even refuse to accept the Widows!!!!
The Prophet actually married an Widow to provide for her!!!
What Islam is this??/Recommend
They have suffered enough, or haven’t they? Afterall they witnessed the assasination of their father/husband. We should be more cognizant of their suffering that probably lasted longer than five to ten years. They are human after all, aren’t they?Recommend
Are we humans too? Aren’t we?Recommend
Why not Bangla Desh? They have recently been infected with the Arab virus.Recommend
Send them to ‘all-weather’ friend China.Recommend
@Raj:
Yeah! The all weather friend! lol!Recommend
@Hedgefunder: Marry themRecommend
The last paragraph is very funny, Malik announce to award of 5million for the one who provide the information for the killers, investigative technique by Pakistan police.Recommend
@Saudi:
Sheikh Sultan, the real Caliph of yester Islam wants his country back.
The Ottomans have still not forgotten how the Saud Family disemembered Muslim Caliphate and played at the hands of Lawrence of Arabia. Alas their role today is still the same as in 1920′s
I am pleasantly surprised to see you trying to reason—-its refreshing you could get a break from your mobile phone and 4×4 SUV.Recommend
Hyporats who consider Osama a hero are blaming Pakistani and Saudi governments. Why don’t they come forward and sponsor families of their beloved leader. These cowards will not come forward to own responsibility just like their leader who used these poor women and children as human shields and kept them in worst possible conditions. This great warrior did not plan anything for them in case he is killed by enemy. He thought his enemies would also kill his family with him just like his followers have done at many occasions. Still his shameless followers will not stop praying for his BLUND DARJAAT. Recommend
I am willing to accept the widows as my wives if the following conditions are met.
1) Provide me the same Mansion in Abbottabad so that the transition is smooth
2) Provide me the same security provided to their late husband
3) Provide me the Pakistani Citizenship
4) Provide me the manual and guidance how a non Muslim can marry the three Muslim widows of an innocently and brutally murdered Muslim. I am willing to convert to Islam.
I am fed up of living in the West.Recommend
@Mirza: well said!Recommend
@Fedup:
And should countries ‘housing’ Pakistani workers send them back home to Pakistan – which would result in no more financial remittances for Pakistan!Recommend
All the people posting in favor of Osama and his family..just thout for a second that Osama never considered kids woman and others as Human and killed them brutally. I believe, Pakistan should feel shameful that they have given shelter to Osama and his family for doing bad things but when it came to showing humanity and keeping them in the country, they are not ready….Pakistanis have taken the world for granted. I think strict actions should be taken against Osama and his family (like they should be treated the same way Osama was..cuz u never know tif they become terrorist in future). Recommend
All the people posting in favor of Osama and his family..just thout for a second that Osama never considered kids woman and others as Human and killed them brutally. I believe, Pakistan should feel shameful that they have given shelter to Osama and his family for doing bad things but when it came to showing humanity and keeping them in the country, they are not ready….Pakistanis have taken the world for granted. I think strict actions should be taken against Osama and his family (like they should be treated the same way Osama was..cuz u never know tif they become terrorist in future).Recommend
Vienna,20-05-2011
Raj, congrats.I do hope you do not volunteer to lead Al-Queda as well from the prison
mansion.Do tell the public how you should be addressed Raja Mohammed Allah Hafiz?
Kulamarva BalakrishnaRecommend
They Should be killed: They Consciously Enjoyed the Luxuries(Earned by killing Thousands of Innocent people and by Criminal Activities) given by OBL, So obviously they also should face the same destiny as OBL. This world cant afford 5 or 10 more OBL’s. Even if you feed milk daily to a Snake , will have deadly poison in it though the snake is small.Recommend
Never be like what other did wrong to you. If some one is animal we can not be animal and we should always work like human and that is what required at this moment.
I dont want to comment pakistani part as they are living in complex world and afacing lot of issues. They are bestjudge what they are doing.Recommend
Hijaj send Muhammad bin Qasim to Sindh to save a women in India. Now a days Hijaj’s kingdom has plainly refused to accept Bin Laden’s family. What a hypocratic these kings of Muslim countries are who can not even protect their own nationals. Allah Bless You All from these holy cows “the guardian of Islam and Umah”.Recommend
Where are human rights activists and NGOs who are living on Aid money??? Where is our fair media??? Where is our guardians?? Where are the governments who would own their citizens and would assist them from the brutality of Physic who have no humanity. Even the enemy salute when he kills his opponent on war ground.
Have some petty on them and just come to their shoes or think “it could be your own daughter, sister or cousin”. Shame on all of you. Recommend
@Hamid Javaid:
Your Destiny & Fate is in your Hands….If you do good Government will Honour and Reward You. If you Harm and Slaughter People( Innocent) then obviously Government will Abandon & Punish you.
I am sure, your daughter or Sister or cousin wont be in that situation unless you are a Criminal like OBL. It doesnt happen for everyone.
One should not compare, War ground(Follows Ethics) with Terror ground(No Ethics & Humanity).Recommend
what a shameful act from saudi arabi r u afraid of america or u want to please america u never please america because america is enemy of muslims .who saya that usama is terriorist i just say u read Holy quran and decide who is terriorist plz ALLAH SE DRO Recommend
Saudi Arab should accept Bin Laden harmless family…..Recommend
Bin Ladin was the product of the extremist idealogy prevalent in KSA. He was exported to Pakistan, via Sudan and Afghanistan. KSA stripped him of citizenship, but not his wives, or children. It is their moral obligation to take them back and provide protection, if they themselves were not involved in Bin Ladin actions.Recommend
Send them to your best friend – COMMUNIST CHINARecommend