ISLAMABAD: Mushtaq Ahmad Khan, the chairman of the Pakistan Rights Movement (PRM), has traced a long arc from a village in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to the Senate of Pakistan and, in January 2026, to the founding of his own political party built around the slogan "Rights, Resistance, Reforms".
According to his profile on Wikipedia, Khan was born on 3 March 1974 in Sheikh Jana, in the Swabi District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and holds a master's degree in physics from the University of Peshawar. His public life began in student politics: he rose through Islami Jamiat-e-Talaba, serving as its provincial head in 1997, central general secretary in 1999, and central president in 2002.
From the Senate to a new platform
Khan served as a Senator of Pakistan from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa from 12 March 2018 to 12 March 2024, according to his Wikipedia profile, which also records that he was provincial president of Jamaat-e-Islami in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa from October 2021 until April 2022.
His path to PRM ran through a break with that party. The News reported on 9 October 2025 that Khan had announced his resignation from Jamaat-e-Islami, submitted on 19 September 2025. He said the move was meant to let him work more freely, stating, "I want to openly advocate for human rights, democracy, free media, Dr Aafia Siddiqui, Palestine, and the constitutional rights of federating units." Khan described the decision as a painful one, telling The News, "The night I resigned, I cried the same way I did when my mother passed away," and adding, "Organisations have their own boundaries, and sometimes one needs freedom to work independently."
A flotilla to Gaza
In September 2025, according to his Wikipedia profile, Khan joined the Global Sumud Flotilla as a representative of Pakistan on a voyage carrying aid toward Gaza. Israeli forces detained him on 2 October 2025, about 70 nautical miles off the Gaza coast, and he was released days later.
Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar confirmed the release on 7 October 2025. "I am pleased to confirm that former Senator Mushtaq has been released and is now safely with Pakistan Embassy in Amman," Dar said, as reported by Arab News. Khan alleged harsh treatment in custody, telling Arab News that "our hands were cuffed behind our backs, chains were fastened around our legs, our eyes were blindfolded, dogs were set upon us, guns were aimed at us and we were subjected to brutal torture". Returning home, he framed the episode as part of a continuing cause, telling The Nation, "We have been freed, but the fight for Palestine's freedom goes on."
The flotilla followed earlier Palestine activism in Islamabad. Wikipedia records that Khan led a pro-Palestine sit-in at D-Chowk in 2024, and Dawn reported that Islamabad police booked him and other Gaza protesters over a rally held in violation of Section 144.
Founding PRM
Khan inaugurated the Pakistan Rights Movement on 10 January 2026, according to its Wikipedia entry, which lists the party as headquartered in Islamabad with an ideology of "Islamic democracy". The Nation reported that he announced the party at a press conference in the capital. At the launch, Dunya News reported, he said the party would adhere to the 1973 Constitution and described the current parliamentary system as "fake".
Khan, identified as PRM chairman, has since announced a Gaza solidarity march from Khyber to Karachi, set to begin on 29 March 2026, Pakistan Today reported. PRM's own founding material sets out a three-point agenda of Rights, Resistance and Reform, a 17-point platform, and a green, red and blue flag with white PRM lettering. Party membership is handled by Chief Organiser Muhammad Daniyal Abdullah via WhatsApp.
