ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Friday confirmed the release of former senator Mushtaq Ahmad Khan, who had been “unlawfully detained” by Israeli forces after the interception of the Gaza-bound Global Sumud Flotilla in international waters.
Dar announced the development in a post on X, thanking Greek authorities for facilitating Khan’s transfer after his release.
“I thank the Hellenic authorities for facilitating former Senator Mushtaq Khan at Crete, Greece,” Dar said.
Khan was among 211 international activists aboard the flotilla, a 58-vessel humanitarian mission aimed at challenging Israel’s blockade on Gaza and delivering aid to the besieged Palestinian territory, according to organizers.
The interception of the flotilla has drawn condemnation from several governments, including Pakistan, which described the detentions as unlawful and part of broader restrictions on humanitarian access to Gaza amid Israel’s ongoing military aggression.
Dar renewed Islamabad’s criticism of Israel’s actions, calling the detention of activists and disruption of aid deliveries unacceptable.
“I reiterate my strongest possible condemnation of the illegal detention of humanitarian workers aboard the flotilla as well as obstruction of humanitarian aid destined for the besieged people of Gaza,” Dar said.
He also thanked the government of Türkiye for assisting Khan’s onward travel from Greece to Istanbul before his return to Pakistan.
In a video message posted on X after his release, Khan said activists had been “kidnapped” by Israel’s “terrorist and Zionist army” while sailing in international waters, describing the interception as a “grave violation of international law.”
“We were held hostage for around 48 hours, and now we have been handed over to Greek authorities,” Khan said.
He added that the flotilla campaign would continue as long as Gaza remained under blockade.
“We will continue this flotilla as long as there is a blockade and siege, as long as there is genocide,” Khan said. “Until Palestine is free, until the right to self-determination is granted, we will continue this struggle.”
Pakistan, which does not recognize Israel, has repeatedly called for unrestricted humanitarian access to Gaza and supports the establishment of an independent Palestinian state based on pre-1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.
Human rights groups say Israel has violated the 2025 ceasefire more than 2,400 times, with the reported breaches leaving at least 766 people dead and 2,147 injured over the past five months.
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