The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ishaq Dar, said on Tuesday that former Jamat-I-Islami Senator (JI), Mushtaq Ahmad, who was arrested by Israel last week after intercepting a flotilla of ships that took help to Gaza, had arrived at the Pakistan embassy in Ammán, Jordan, and was in ” Humor, “he added that he would return on October 9.
Ahmad headed the Pakistani delegation in the Global Sumud (GSF) flotilla, of 45 ships, which left Spain last month to break Israel’s blockade to Gaza aid with activists and politicians, including Greta Thunberg, on board. However, when he approached Gaza, the Israeli forces intercepted him and arrested activists on board before deporting them.
In a publication on the social media platform X, he said: “I am pleased to confirm that former senator Mushtaq has been released and is now safe with [the] Pakistan embassy in Amman. Enjoy good health and good humor. ”
He said the embassy was willing to facilitate his return to Pakistan if he wanted.
“[I] I am pleased to extend our gratitude to all our friends who actively participated and helped in this name, ”he said.
In a publication published later, he said he spoke with Ahmad upon arrival in Islamabad from Malaysia.
“Senator Mushtaq is fine and in a good mood. I praised the courage and firmness of Senator Mushtaq for being part of the Sumud flotilla in support of the Palestinian cause, to break the siege and deliver humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza. Senator Mushtaq thanked the efforts made by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan to approach him in Tel Aviv, Israel. Mission of a European friendly country.
“The Pakistan Foreign Ministry has made arrangements for the return of Senator Mushtaq to Pakistan on October 9”.
Meanwhile, Ahmad also published a video on his X account in which he claimed that the fight against the Israeli block was not over.
“I have arrived in Jordan together with 150 of my colleagues,” he said, adding that he had finally been released from Israeli detention.
“During that time, our hands were handcuffed behind our backs, they chained and chained our feet, they bandaged our eyes, attacked us with dogs, pointed us with weapons and tortured us in the worst way,” he said.
He said the activists started a hunger strike for three days and added that they were denied access to air, drinking water, medications and were not allowed to bed.
“We have been released,” he said. “And the fight for Palestinian freedom will continue. We will break this block. We will go and again. We will make efforts to save Gaza, and those who are accomplices of this genocide, those criminals will be punished,” he said.
He stressed that the fight would continue “from Adiala prison to Israeli prisons,” promising that he would soon return to Pakistan and provide a detailed story of his time in the flotilla, as well as his Israeli detention.
On Sunday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (FO) said it was actively committed to international partners to guarantee the “security and prompt repatriation” of the Pakistani detained by Israel. Regarding Ahmad, he had declared: “We have also been informed that, according to local legal procedures, [former] Senator Mushtaq will be presented before a court. Once the deportation orders are issued, your repatriation will be facilitated by the fast track. ”
On Monday, Fo reiterated that he was making efforts to achieve the safe return of the former senator.
“With the invaluable help of the Jordanian government, we hope that the process can conclude successfully in the next few days,” said the FO. He also expressed his deep gratitude to Jordan’s “brother” government for “his exemplary cooperation and his generous support.”
Pakistan and several other countries had condemned Israel’s “cowardly attack” against the GSF. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also requested the release of those arrested by Israel.
On October 3, he had assured the chief of JI, Hafiz Naeemur Rehman, during a telephone conversation, that the government actively participated in the efforts to guarantee the safe return of the Pakistani citizens, including Ahmad.
