[Congressional Bills 112th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 723 Introduced in House (IH)]

112th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 723

  Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives regarding the 
      classification of Dr. Shakil Afridi as a refugee of special 
               humanitarian concern to the United States.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             June 29, 2012

Mr. Rohrabacher submitted the following resolution; which was referred 
                   to the Committee on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
  Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives regarding the 
      classification of Dr. Shakil Afridi as a refugee of special 
               humanitarian concern to the United States.

Whereas, on September 11, 2011, nearly 3,000 innocent Americans were murdered in 
        a terrorist attack planned and carried out by Al Qaeda;
Whereas at that time, the leader of Al Qaeda was Usama Bin Ladin;
Whereas for nearly 10 years, United States military forces, intelligence 
        officials, and law enforcement officials attempted to locate Bin Ladin;
Whereas Bin Ladin was believed to be in a compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan;
Whereas before taking action, United States military forces, intelligence 
        officials and law enforcement officials wanted to ensure that Bin Ladin 
        did in fact live in the compound;
Whereas at great risk to himself, Pakistani native Dr. Shakil Afridi aided the 
        United States Government by conducting a ``vaccination program'' in 
        order to collect DNA samples from individuals inside the Abbottabad 
        compound;
Whereas such aid was indispensable by helping to prove that Bin Ladin was living 
        at the compound;
Whereas, on May 1, 2011, Usama Bin Ladin was killed by United States military 
        forces at the compound in Abbottabad;
Whereas Dr. Afridi was arrested by Pakistani officials on May 22, 2011 and held 
        for nearly a year without charge;
Whereas Dr. Afridi was convicted of those charges by a Pakistani tribal court 
        and on May 23, 2012, sentenced to 33 years in prison and ordered to pay 
        a $3,500 fine;
Whereas charges of treason are pending against Dr. Afridi in the Pakistani 
        Supreme Court based on his involvement with the United States action to 
        kill Bin Ladin;
Whereas were it not for the actions of Dr. Afridi, Usama Bin Ladin might still 
        be alive and leading Al Qaeda;
Whereas, on January 29, 2012, U.S. Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta stated that 
        Dr. Afridi ``helped provide intelligence that was very helpful with 
        regards to this operation (to kill Usama Bin Ladin);''
Whereas Dr. Afridi's life or freedom should not be in jeopardy for aiding in the 
        operation to verify the whereabouts and ultimately kill Usama bin Ladin;
Whereas Americans and their allies are forever indebted to Dr. Afridi for his 
        courageous actions; and
Whereas Dr. Afridi is suffering persecution as a result of his assistance to the 
        United States: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives calls on President 
Obama to classify Dr. Shakil Afridi as a refugee of special 
humanitarian concern to the United States and seek to resettle him in 
the United States.
                                 <all>