US and British citizens are among several imprisoned in Pakistan after the government launched a crackdown against protesters who attacked state buildings and military installations on May 9 when PTI chief Imran was arrested.

According to a report by the American magazine The Intercept, the impacts have not been limited to those with ties to Pakistan but American and British citizens were also detained in the country.

Media reports said that the exact number of people arrested was not clear but a Pakistani-American woman Khadija Shah was known to be in custody.

In June, in responding the questions about her case the US government announced that it had requested consular access to Shah from the Pakistani government.

The US government wasn’t told about any attempt for the other Americans may be detained there. A State Department spokesperson said: “Consular officers have visited Shah three times since her arrest. The last visit was on July 27, 2023. We continue to monitor her case closely.”

Some Pakistanis in the West said that there were likely many Pakistanis with foreign citizenship in custody. Shehzad Akbar, an adviser to Khan during the PTI government, fled the country and was in the United Kingdom. He claimed that many more Pakistanis were likely imprisoned over the crackdown.

He added that their families were scared to come forward due to the possible repercussions towards loved ones.

Akbar’s own brother was arrested in Pakistan to pressure him to return to the country from the United Kingdom.

“My brother was detained in the middle of the night on May 28,” said Akbar. “Dozens of armed paramilitaries and counterterrorism police surrounded his house, broke down the door, and took him into custody.”

The US State Department said: “We have no higher priority than the safety and security of US citizens overseas, we are in close contact with Pakistani authorities regarding the issue and expect them to afford all detainees fair and transparent treatment in accordance with Pakistan’s laws and international obligations.”

He said that Pakistani security forces wanted him to testify against Khan, who was currently imprisoned in the Toshakhana case pertaining to hiding the gift details he had received from the friendly countries.

Akbar refused to return to Pakistan and denounced Khan and said that he was hired by the government to perform a role and he was not a member of the PTI.

“I never thought things would come to the point that the military would kidnap my brother and hold him hostage with no chargeable offence just to put pressure on me.”

The Human Rights Watch also criticised the Pakistani government over the detention of political activists following the May uprising. In addition, the police have also been accused of extrajudicial arrest and torturing detainees in custody.