Former Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) senator Mushtaq Ahmad Khan, who was detained by Israeli forces during the Global Sumud Flotilla mission to Gaza, is confirmed to be safe and currently in Israeli custody, according to Pakistan’s Foreign Office. Diplomatic sources in a “friendly European country” have verified his wellbeing, officials said on Saturday.
The Foreign Office stated that, as per local legal procedures, Mushtaq Ahmad Khan will soon appear before an Israeli court. Once deportation orders are issued, Pakistan expects his return to be processed swiftly. Authorities in Islamabad have already taken measures to ensure the safety and repatriation of other Pakistani nationals who were part of the humanitarian flotilla.
The ex-senator was leading a five-member Pakistani delegation aboard the Global Sumud Flotilla, which aimed to deliver medicine and food supplies to the besieged people of Gaza. The flotilla comprised more than 40 civilian boats carrying around 500 parliamentarians, lawyers, and human rights activists from around the world.
In response to his arrest, Jamaat-e-Islami leader Hafiz Naeemur Rehman said he had spoken directly with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, urging him to intensify diplomatic efforts for Khan’s release. The prime minister, he added, had directed Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar to handle the matter personally.
Mass protests erupted across Karachi and other cities of Sindh on Friday, condemning Israel’s attack on the flotilla. Thousands of citizens joined rallies and demonstrations following JI’s nationwide call for protest.
Videos shared on Telegram by members of the flotilla showed participants displaying their passports and asserting they had been forcibly taken to Israel, insisting their mission was entirely peaceful and humanitarian.
The Global Sumud Flotilla has become a prominent global symbol of resistance against Israel’s blockade of Gaza. Its voyage across the Mediterranean attracted widespread international attention, with countries including Turkey, Spain, and Italy sending boats and drones to monitor the situation and protect their citizens.
