Karachi: Members of the Progressive Youth Organization Alternate, in conjunction with the National Trade Union Federation Pakistan and the Home Based Women Workers Federation, staged a protest outside the Karachi Press Club to denounce the arrest and alleged torture of Saad Edhi by Israeli forces. Saad Edhi, the grandson of renowned humanitarian Abdul Sattar Edhi, was detained while leading a humanitarian convoy to Gaza.

According to Home-Based Women Workers Federation, Saad Edhi was part of the "Global Sumud Flotilla," a humanitarian mission carrying aid from Pakistan to Palestinians in Gaza. The convoy, comprising 45 boats and over 500 international participants, set sail from Marmaris, Türkiye, with the aim of providing relief to those affected by the ongoing conflict in Gaza. It was intercepted by Israeli security forces in international waters, approximately 200 nautical miles from Gaza's coast, where Edhi and others were detained and allegedly subjected to physical abuse.

Faisal Edhi, Saad's father, emphasized the peaceful nature of the mission, noting that its sole purpose was to deliver essential supplies such as food and medicine. Nasir Mansoor of NTUF highlighted the historical significance of the convoy's departure, coinciding with the 78th anniversary of the Nakba, a period marked by the displacement of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians.

The protest saw participation from various political, social, and human rights organizations, with calls for international intervention to secure Saad Edhi's release. Saeed Baloch of the Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum urged the United Nations, the Pakistani government, and international rights organizations to take immediate action. Saad's mother, Saba Edhi, appealed to citizens across Pakistan to voice their opposition to the Israeli actions and demand the release of her son and other detainees.