Slain Al Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden. — Photo by AP

ISLAMABAD: A lawyer for Osama bin Laden's three widows and their nine children says the family is expected to be deported from Pakistan to Saudi Arabia later Wednesday.

Mohammad Amir Khalil said the family was unable to leave overnight Tuesday as planned because the brother of Osama’s youngest wife, Amal Ahmed Abdel-Fatah al-Sada, was not in possession of his passport.

Zakaria al-Sada has been in Pakistan campaigning for his sister Amal's release.

Khalil said his passport was currently being held by a Pakistani court, but it was expected to be released later Wednesday.

He said the family would then likely leave for Saudi Arabia.

The family has been in Pakistani detention since the US raid that killed Osama almost a year ago.