Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s Foreign Office on Monday expressed hope that former senator Mushtaq Ahmad Khan, detained by Israel last week, would be repatriated &ldquo;within the next couple of days.&rdquo; The former Senator was taken into custody after Israeli forces intercepted a flotilla of boats carrying aid for Gaza. He had led Pakistan&rsquo;s delegation in the Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF), a 45-vessel convoy that set sail from Spain last month with activists and politicians &mdash; including Greta Thunberg &mdash; on board. The flotilla aimed to break Israel&rsquo;s blockade of Gaza, where the United Nations has warned of famine. &ldquo;The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan, through its embassy in Amman, is working tirelessly to secure the safe evacuation of former senator Mushtaq Ahmad Khan,&rdquo; the FO said in a statement. <div class="fr-embed responsive-video"><div class="video-wrapper aspect-video"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-2" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-2&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1975095906069303412&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Fmedia-library%2F&sessionId=e2b5995ff0af9d6e604688cf4e394311f26a77d5&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="width: 550px; height: 321px; min-height: 0px; position: static; visibility: visible;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div> &ldquo;With the invaluable assistance of the Jordanian government, we are hopeful that the process can be successfully concluded within the next couple of days.&rdquo; The FO also expressed &ldquo;deep gratitude&rdquo; to the &ldquo;brotherly government of Jordan&rdquo; for its &ldquo;exemplary cooperation and generous support.&rdquo;</div></div> On Sunday, the ministry said Khan would be presented before a court in Israel under local legal procedures, and that his return to Pakistan would be expedited once deportation orders are issued. The government said it had earlier coordinated the return of other citizens who disembarked from the flotilla, thanking friendly nations for their support. &ldquo;The Government of Pakistan remains committed to the protection of all its citizens abroad and anticipates the completion of this repatriation process within the coming days,&rdquo; the FO said.

Foreign Affairs

Says the government, through its embassy in Amman, is working tirelessly to secure the safe evacuation of the former senator.

Pakistan hopeful of Senator Mushtaq’s return in ‘next couple of days’

ISLAMABAD: The Foreign Office said on Sunday that Pakistan is actively pursuing the safe and prompt repatriation of its citizens detained by Israeli forces during their participation in the Global Sumud Flotilla.&nbsp;In an official statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it has established contact with international partners to ensure the safety of the detained individuals. Among them is former Senator Mushtaq Ahmad, who is confirmed to be in Israeli custody, safe and in good health. <div class="fr-embed responsive-video"><div class="video-wrapper aspect-video"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; line-height: 2;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1974708517182574727&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2Fnew%2F&sessionId=9df509bd4df11b0a8f034903ca88199449e229e4&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 925px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" data-tweet-id="1974708517182574727"></iframe></div></div></div>&nbsp;The ministry noted that Ahmad will be presented before a court under local legal procedures. His return to Pakistan is expected to be expedited once deportation orders are issued.&nbsp;Earlier, the government had successfully coordinated the return of other citizens who disembarked from the flotilla. It expressed gratitude to friendly nations that supported these efforts.&nbsp;&quot;The Government of Pakistan remains committed to the protection of all its citizens abroad and anticipates the completion of this repatriation process within the coming days,&quot; the statement said.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs says it has established contact with international partners to ensure the safety of the detained individuals.

Pakistan engaged in repatriation efforts for citizens detained by Israel: FO

Ummer Faizan

ISLAMABAD: Pakistani religio-political party Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) on Thursday called on the government to ensure the safe and swift return of its former senator, Mushtaq Ahmad Khan, who was detained by Israeli naval forces during the interception of the Gaza-bound Global Sumud Flotilla. Speaking at a press conference in Lahore, JI President Hafiz Naeemur Rehman described the flotilla as a &ldquo;noble humanitarian mission,&rdquo; noting that politicians, actors, and human rights activists were among those on board. &ldquo;This is Israel&rsquo;s terrorism,&rdquo; JI Information Secretary Shakeel Turabi told Pakistan TV Digital, quoting Rehman as saying, while expressing hope for the &ldquo;safe and healthy return&rdquo; of the detained activists. Rehman further urged the Pakistani government &ldquo;not to take any decision in haste&rdquo; and instead push for a &ldquo;one-state solution, not two,&rdquo; in line with the vision of the country&rsquo;s founder, Muhammad Ali Jinnah. The 45-vessel flotilla, carrying more than 450 international activists, including Swedish climate campaigner Greta Thunberg, departed Spain last month in a bid to break Israel&rsquo;s blockade of Gaza, where the UN has warned of famine. Pakistan&rsquo;s Foreign Office noted that it is coordinating with allied nations to secure the release of its citizens. Spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan condemned the interception as &ldquo;a grave violation of international law&rdquo; and underscored that &ldquo;the safety and well-being of Pakistani citizens aboard the flotilla are of paramount importance.&rdquo; Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also denounced the &ldquo;dastardly attack&rdquo; and praised Pakistanis for joining the humanitarian mission. &ldquo;Their crime was to carry aid for the hapless Palestinian people,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;Peace must be given a chance, and humanitarian aid must reach those in need. This barbarity must end.&rdquo; Israeli forces detained hundreds of activists and transferred them to Ashdod port for deportation proceedings, sparking global outrage. Turkey, Spain, Colombia, and South Africa joined Pakistan in demanding the activists&rsquo; immediate release, while Amnesty International condemned the interception as &ldquo;an act of intimidation.&rdquo;

A screengrab from Pakistani Senator Mushtaq Ahmad Khan’s X account shows his message before being detained by Israeli forces during the Gaza-bound Global Sumud Flotilla. (X/Senator Mushtaq)

Security

Politics

 Jamaat-e-Islami urged Pakistan to secure the safe return of ex-senator Mushtaq Ahmad Khan, detained on the Gaza flotilla. The Foreign Office and Prime Minister condemned Israel’s interception, as global outrage mounted and allies demanded activists’ release.

Articles tagged with "senator Mushtaq Ahmad Khan"

Pakistan hopeful of Senator Mushtaq’s return in ‘next couple of days’

Pakistan engaged in repatriation efforts for citizens detained by Israel: FO

Pakistani religio-political party urges safe return of ex-senator detained on Gaza flotilla