The Foreign Office confirmed Sunday that former Jamaat-e-Islami senator Mushtaq Ahmad Khan is in Israeli custody and will be presented before a court in accordance with local procedures. The ministry said confirmation was received through diplomatic channels of a friendly European country, assuring that the former senator is safe and in good health.
Ahmad was detained on October 2 while aboard the Global Sumud Flotilla, which was carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza. He was leading a five-member Pakistani delegation among nearly 500 international participants, including lawmakers, lawyers, and activists.
The Foreign Office said that once deportation orders are issued, Ahmad’s repatriation will be expedited. It added that efforts had already been made for the safe return of other Pakistani citizens who disembarked earlier from the flotilla.
Jamaat-e-Islami leader Hafiz Naeemur Rehman said he had spoken with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to urge faster action for Ahmad’s release. The prime minister informed him that Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar had been tasked with overseeing the matter.
On Friday, protests were held across Pakistan, particularly in Karachi and other Sindh cities, to condemn Israel’s interception of the flotilla. Demonstrators carried banners and called for the release of detained activists.
The Global Sumud Flotilla — comprising over 40 boats — aimed to deliver food and medical aid to Gaza. Videos shared on social media by participants showed activists holding up passports and stating they were taken to Israel against their will, asserting that their mission was peaceful and humanitarian.
The flotilla has drawn widespread international attention, with Turkey, Spain, and Italy dispatching support vessels or drones to assist their nationals. Israel had earlier warned the convoy to turn back before intercepting it at sea.
May ALLAH help Mushtaq Ahmad Khan and his companions. AMEEN