Pakistan's former senator Mushtaq Ahmad freed from Israeli custody reaches Jordan

'Senator Mushtaq is fine and in high spirits,' says Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar

ISLAMABAD:

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Tuesday confirmed that former Jamaat-e-Islami senator Mushtaq Ahmad has been released from Israeli detention and is now at the Pakistan embassy in Amman, Jordan.

Dar said Ahmad was "in good health and high spirits" and that 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 safely with [the] Pakistan embassy in Amman. He is in good health and high spirits," Dar said in a post on social media platform X.

Dar added that the embassy stood ready to assist Ahmad with his return if he wished. "[I] am pleased to extend our gratitude to all our friendly countries who actively engaged and assisted in this behalf," he said.

Later in the day, Dar said he had spoken to Ahmad after arriving in Islamabad from Malaysia.

"Senator Mushtaq is fine and in high spirits. I lauded the courage and steadfastness of senator Mushtaq for being part of the Sumud Flotilla in support of the Palestinian cause, to break the siege to deliver humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza. Senator Mushtaq thanked for the efforts made by the Pakistan Foreign Office in reaching out to him in Tel Aviv, Israel through a friendly European country's mission there and for the full support and facilitation for his stay and safety in Amman by Pakistan Embassy."

"Arrangement has been by the Pakistan Foreign Office for return of senator Mushtaq to Pakistan on October 9."

Ahmad himself posted a video on his X account after his release, describing harsh conditions in Israeli custody and reiterating his commitment to the Palestinian cause.