ISLAMABAD: Former senator Mushtaq Ahmad has arrived in Pakistan following his release from Israeli detention.
Mushtaq Ahmad, who was freed from Israeli custody, arrived in Pakistan on a private airline flight from Bahrain and was warmly received at Islamabad airport amid a display of Palestinian flags.
A grand reception was held for the former senator at the Islamabad airport, where the airport was awash with Palestinian flags.
He had led the Pakistani delegation in the “Global Steadfastness Flotilla,” a 45-vessel convoy that set out last month from Spain carrying aid for Gaza in an effort to break the Israeli blockade.
The Global Steadfastness Flotilla included human rights activists and politicians as well as prominent environmental campaigner Greta Thunberg. However, when the convoy approached Gaza, Israeli forces intercepted it, detained all those on board and later deported them.
Earlier, Pakistan’s embassy in Jordan posted on the social media platform X that the former senator had departed for Pakistan safely.
The statement said: “On the instructions of Pakistan’s honourable Deputy Prime Minister, the Pakistani embassy in Jordan ensured all necessary arrangements for his safe and smooth departure.”
Alhamdulillah, Senator Mushtaq Ahmad has safely departed for Pakistan.
In accordance with the instructions of the Honorable Deputy Prime Minister of Pakistan, the Embassy of Pakistan in Amman ensured all necessary arrangements were made for his safe and smooth departure.… pic.twitter.com/jjy30Tnrdm— Pakistan Embassy Jordan (@PakinJordan) October 8, 2025
Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry’s X account also reshared the post.
On Wednesday, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar spoke with Jordan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi.
According to the Foreign Ministry, Dar appreciated Jordan’s role in receiving the flotilla’s released activists and facilitating their return.
The ministry further said that Dar “also thanked Jordan for assisting former senator Mushtaq Ahmad’s return to Amman,” and that Mushtaq Ahmad would arrive in Pakistan today.
On Tuesday, Dar had confirmed that Mushtaq Ahmad had been released and was safely with the Pakistani embassy in Amman; he said he had already spoken with the former senator after his arrival in Malaysia on his way back to Islamabad.
He had said that “Senator Mushtaq is well and in high spirits. I praised his courage and steadfastness for participating in the flotilla to deliver humanitarian aid to the Palestinian people and to break the siege.”
On arrival in Islamabad from Malaysia, I have just spoken over the phone with former Senator Mushtaq through Pakistan’s Ambassador in Amman.
Senator Mushtaq is fine and in high spirits. I lauded the courage and steadfastness of Senator Mushtaq for being part of the Sumud…
— Ishaq Dar (@MIshaqDar50) October 7, 2025
He also said that “Senator Mushtaq thanked Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry for contacting him in Tel Aviv through the diplomatic mission of a friendly European country and for fully cooperating to ensure his protection and facilitation while he stayed in Amman,” the ministry added.
After his release from Israeli custody and arrival in Jordan on Tuesday, former senator Mushtaq Ahmad said in his first video message posted on X that “I have reached Jordan with 150 of my colleagues; after five to six days in Israel’s notorious prison we were released.”
مشتاق احمد خان صاحب اسرائیلی جیل سے رہا ہو کر اردن پہنچ گئے۔
ان کا پیغام ہے کہ اڈیالہ سے لے کر اسرائیلی جیل تک مزاحمت جاری رہے گی
(ایڈمن) pic.twitter.com/gJi6zXFUTZ
— Senator Mushtaq Ahmad Khan | سینیٹر مشتاق احمد خان (@SenatorMushtaq) October 7, 2025
He said: “In the Israeli jail we were subjected to the worst violence: our hands were handcuffed, our feet shackled and chained, blindfolds were placed over our eyes, dogs were set on us and guns were pointed at us.”
He added: “We carried out a hunger strike for three days to press our demands, but we were deprived of drinking water, air and medical facilities; we were not given access to anything.”
The former senator said: “Alhamdulillah we have been released, but the struggle for Palestine’s freedom will continue. We will break this blockade and will go repeatedly for that purpose; we will try to save Gaza and bring those responsible for genocide to justice.”
He further said: “Resistance will continue from Adiala jail to Israeli prisons and the struggle for Palestine’s freedom will go on. I will come to Pakistan soon and will give a full account of the Global Steadfastness Flotilla and the Israeli prisons. Our struggle will continue until the end of Israel.”