ISLAMABAD:
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar confirmed on Tuesday that former Jamaat-e-Islami senator Mushtaq Ahmad had been released from Israeli custody and was now at the Pakistani embassy in Amman, Jordan.
Dar said Ahmad was “in good health and good spirits” and arrangements had been made for his return to Pakistan on October 9.
“I am pleased to confirm that former Senator Mushtaq has been released and is now safe with [the] Embassy of Pakistan in Amman. He is healthy and in good spirits,” Dar said in a post on social media platform X.
Dar added that the embassy was ready to help Ahmad upon his return if he wished. “[I] I am happy to express our gratitude to all our friendly countries who have actively engaged and helped in this regard,” he said.
Later in the day, Dar said he spoke to Ahmad after he arrived in Islamabad from Malaysia.
“Senator Mushtaq is well and in good spirits. I praised the courage and steadfastness of Senator Mushtaq for being part of the Sumud flotilla in support of the Palestinian cause, to break the siege and provide humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza. Senator Mushtaq thanked the efforts of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan in reaching out to him in Tel Aviv, in Israel, through the mission of a friendly European country there and for the full support and facilitation of its stay and security in Amman by the Pakistan Embassy.
“The Pakistani Foreign Ministry has made arrangements for the return of Senator Mushtaq to Pakistan on October 9.”
Ahmad himself posted a video on his X account after his release, describing the harsh conditions of detention in Israel and reiterating his commitment to the Palestinian cause.
