ISLAMABAD — Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has confirmed that former senator Mushtaq Ahmad Khan will return to Pakistan on October 9, following his release from Israeli detention after the interception of the Global Sumud Flotilla a humanitarian mission bound for Gaza.
Mushtaq Ahmad, a senior leader of the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), was among dozens of activists and political figures arrested by Israeli forces earlier this month. The 45-ship flotilla, which had set sail from Spain, aimed to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza and challenge Israel’s blockade, which has been widely condemned by the international community amid fears of a deepening humanitarian crisis.
In a post shared on X (formerly Twitter), Ishaq Dar said he spoke with the ex-senator via phone through Pakistan’s ambassador in Amman after arriving in Islamabad from Malaysia.
“Senator Mushtaq is safe and in high spirits,” Dar wrote. “I praised his courage and unwavering commitment to the Palestinian cause, as well as his participation in the Global Sumud Flotilla, which sought to break the siege and deliver aid to Gaza.”
Dar added that Mushtaq Ahmad personally thanked the Pakistan Foreign Office for its timely intervention and assistance through a friendly European country’s diplomatic mission in Tel Aviv, and for the continued support provided by the Pakistan Embassy in Amman during his stay in Jordan.
Mushtaq Ahmad recounts ordeal in Israeli custody
After his release, the former senator shared harrowing details of his detention in a video message, describing the mistreatment he faced while being held at Ketziot Prison also known as Ansar III a high-security facility located in Israel’s Negev Desert.
“I was subjected to torture. My eyes were blindfolded, guns were pointed at us,” Ahmad said. “I went on a hunger strike. We were denied clean air, drinking water, and medical aid.”
The ex-senator said he is currently under the care of Pakistan’s diplomatic mission in Amman and plans to return home soon to share further details about his ordeal.
“Despite what we went through, our resolve remains firm,” he said. “We will continue to stand for the freedom of Palestine and the rights of its people.”
Foreign Minister Dar lauded Mushtaq Ahmad’s resilience, describing him as “a symbol of courage and moral strength” for his steadfast advocacy of the Palestinian cause in the face of adversity.
The incident has once again drawn attention to the peril faced by international activists seeking to deliver aid to Gaza a reminder, observers say, of both the human cost of the blockade and the growing global outcry for justice in Palestine.
