[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 901 Introduced in House (IH)]

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118th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 901

     Expressing support for democracy and human rights in Pakistan.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           November 30, 2023

  Mr. McCormick (for himself and Mr. Kildee) submitted the following 
   resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
     Expressing support for democracy and human rights in Pakistan.

Whereas Pakistan is an important and valued partner of the United States;
Whereas in 2022, catastrophic monsoon rains in Pakistan left over one-third of 
        the country under water, affecting the lives of over 33,000,000 
        Pakistanis;
Whereas the United States Government has assisted Pakistan's recovery from the 
        devastating 2022 floods, including through resources to rebuild damaged 
        infrastructure, invest in clean energy, promote food security, and 
        support economic growth;
Whereas, on December 10, 1948, Pakistan became one of the original signatories 
        to, and supported the creation of, the Universal Declaration of Human 
        Rights (UDHR);
Whereas, on June 23, 2010, Pakistan ratified the International Covenant on Civil 
        and Political Rights (ICCPR);
Whereas the Department of State 2022 Country Report on Human Rights Practices 
        reported ``significant human rights issues'' in Pakistan, including 
        unlawful, arbitrary, and extrajudicial killings, forced disappearance 
        and arbitrary detention by the State or its agents, the taking of 
        political prisoners, serious restrictions on free expression and media, 
        and substantial interference with the freedom of peaceful assembly and 
        freedom of association;
Whereas the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan reported the Pakistani police 
        used excessive force on Pakistani citizens during at least 20 protests 
        in 2022, resulting in the death of at least 4 protesters and injuring 
        and detaining many others;
Whereas, on April 3, 2022, President Arif Alvi dissolved Pakistan's National 
        Assembly on the advice of former Prime Minister Imran Khan, but the 
        dissolution order was subsequently set aside by the Supreme Court of 
        Pakistan;
Whereas, on April 9, 2022, a vote of no-confidence motion in the National 
        Assembly against Imran Khan led to his removal as Prime Minister of 
        Pakistan;
Whereas, on April 11, 2022, Shehbaz Sharif was elected unopposed by the National 
        Assembly to replace Imran Khan as Prime Minister, as Pakistan Tehreek-e-
        Insaf (PTI) members boycotted the vote and resigned en masse from the 
        National Assembly;
Whereas the Constitution of Pakistan states: ``When the National Assembly or a 
        Provincial Assembly is dissolved, a general election to the Assembly 
        shall be held within a period of ninety days after the dissolution'';
Whereas, on August 5, 2023, the results of the 2023 Census of Pakistan were 
        approved by the Council of Common Interests and the Election Commission 
        of Pakistan subsequently announced the postponement of elections until 
        January 2024 to redraw constituencies of the National Assembly to 
        reflect the 2023 Census;
Whereas, on August 10, 2023, President Arif Alvi dissolved the National Assembly 
        on the advice of the Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif;
Whereas, on September 1, 2023, caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar said 
        the Government ``was committed to safeguarding and upholding the rights 
        of all its citizens'', and that the Government ``would provide 
        constitutional continuity till the next general elections are held in 
        the country'';
Whereas the Constitution of Pakistan states that ``the Federal Government shall 
        have control and command of the Armed Forces'', and the oath taken by 
        members of the Armed Forces swears they will ``uphold the Constitution'' 
        and ``not engage in any political activities'';
Whereas an essential safeguard of democracy is civilian command and control of 
        apolitical military and security forces;
Whereas democracy, development, rule of law, and respect for human rights and 
        fundamental freedoms are interdependent and mutually reinforcing;
Whereas President Biden in the March 2023 second Summit for Democracy called 
        strengthening democracy the ``defining challenge of our age''; and
Whereas, on March 28, 2023, the Government of Pakistan stated that ``Pakistan 
        would engage bilaterally with the United States . . . to promote and 
        strengthen democratic principles and values and work towards advancing 
        human rights and the fight against corruption'': Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) affirms its strong support for democracy in Pakistan, 
        including free and fair elections reflecting the will of the 
        people of Pakistan;
            (2) calls on the President and the Secretary of State to 
        work with the Government of Pakistan to ensure democracy, human 
        rights, and the rule of law are upheld;
            (3) urges the Government of Pakistan to uphold democratic 
        institutions, human rights, and the rule of law, and respect 
        the fundamental guarantees of due process, freedom of press, 
        freedom of assembly, and freedom of speech of the people of 
        Pakistan;
            (4) condemns attempts to suppress the people of Pakistan's 
        participation in their democracy, including through harassment, 
        intimidation, arbitrary detention, or any violation of their 
        human, civil, or political rights; and
            (5) condemns any effort to subvert the political, 
        electoral, or judicial processes of Pakistan.
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