Pakistanis in Israeli custody will return Wednesday: Minister

Islamabad, June 2, IRNA -- Pakistan Interior Minister Rehman Malik says that the three Pakistanis, who were accompanying the Gaza-bound humanitarian aid flotilla, will return the country on Wednesday.

TV anchor Talat Hussan, producer Raza Mehmood Agha and a member of an aid group Nadeem Ahmed Khan, are currently detained at Israel’s Beer Sheva Prison, the Pakistani Mission to the UN says.

The Mission has been further informed that they are being sent to Jordon from where further arrangement shall be made for their onward travel to Pakistan.

A statement from the Pakistani mission received here said that it has been informed by the office of the UN Secretary General that the three Pakistanis are alive, not injured and currently detained at Beer Sheva Prison.

Famous TV anchor and the Executive Director of news and current affairs at Aaj News Talat Hussain talked to his television channel, before the Israeli commandos raided the ships that he could see Israeli forces steaming toward the convoy.

Afterward he lost contact with his television station, news media reported. Pakistan Government had taken up the issue with Secretary General of Interpol to secure the release of the three media personnel.

Government of Pakistan has also involved the services of US envoy to Pakistan, and Pakistan Ambassador to USA for an expeditious return of Pakistanis.

Rallies across Pakistan condemned Israeli aggression and demonstrators urged several Islamic countries to end diplomatic relations with the Zionist regime./end