OBL comm lifts travel limits on bin Laden family

The commission headed by former Supreme Court judge Javed Iqbal withdrew its earlier order barring the widows and children of bin Laden from leaving Pakistan, saying it had completed questioning them.

The panel had interviewed bin Laden`s three widows and two daughters for the first time on Tuesday.

"The commission has taken statements and investigated the wives and daughters of Osama bin Laden. They are no more required to the commission. Consequently, restraining order may be treated as withdrawn to the extent of (bin Laden`s) family," the statement said.

The commission also directed the authorities to register a case of "high treason" against government doctor Shakeel Afridi detained on charges of working for the CIA to obtain DNA samples of people living in the Al-Qaeda leader`s Abbottabad compound.

Afridi was detained shortly after the covert US military raid that killed bin Laden in Abbottabad on May 2.

"In view of the record and evidence placed before the commission in relation to Dr Shakeel Afridi, the commission is of the view that prima facie, a case of conspiracy against the State of Pakistan and high treason is made out against him," said a statement issued by the panel.

"Therefore, a case under relevant law should be registered against Dr Shakeel Afridi and he should be proceeded in accordance with law," the statement said.

Under Pakistani laws, a person convicted of high treason can be awarded a death penalty.