Ex-senator Mushtaq Ahmed released by Israeli forces

Former Pakistani senator Mushtaq Ahmed Khan, who was arrested by Israeli forces while carrying food and humanitarian aid to besieged Gaza, has been released.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar confirmed the news, saying Mushtaq Ahmed is currently at the Pakistani Embassy in Amman, Jordan, and is in good health.

Dar shared the update in a post on X (formerly Twitter), writing that the former senator’s “health is good and his spirits are high.” He added that the Pakistani embassy will provide all necessary support for Mushtaq Ahmed’s return home, and expressed gratitude to “friendly countries” that played a role in facilitating his release.

Mushtaq Ahmed was detained by Israeli forces while attempting to deliver food and relief supplies to Palestinians in Gaza, which has been under blockade since the start of the recent escalation. 

After spending five to six days in an Israeli prison, the senator was released and later appeared in a video statement, confirming his freedom and detailing the ordeal he and others faced in custody.

In his video message, Mushtaq Ahmed revealed that he was subjected to harsh conditions during detention, describing it as “the worst torture.” He said that detainees were held in notorious prison facilities where “even clean drinking water was not available.”