H. Res. 901 

In the House of Representatives, U. S., 

June 25, 2024. 

Whereas Pakistan is an important and valued partner of the 

United States; 

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, following the end of the most recent period of military rule in 2008, Pakistan completed its first peaceful 

transition of power between civilian governments led by 

different political parties in 2013, but the military continues to exert undue influence on the politics of the 

country; 

Whereas, during previous elections, most recently in 2018, 

election monitors expressed concern about constraints on 

the freedom of expression and freedom of association and 

noted allegations of influence by the military-led establishment on the electoral process; 

Whereas the Department of State’s Country Report on 

Human Rights Practices has often highlighted significant 

human rights issues in Pakistan across multiple years, 

including unlawful, arbitrary, and extrajudicial killings, 
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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, on April 9, 2022, the National Assembly voted to 

remove Imran Khan as Prime Minister through a vote of 

no-confidence motion; 

Whereas, on August 10, 2023, President Arif Alvi dissolved 

Pakistan’s National Assembly on the advice of Prime 

Minister Shehbaz Sharif to allow for new elections, although the Election Commission of Pakistan subsequently announced the postponement of elections until 

February 2024 to redraw constituencies of the National 

Assembly to reflect the 2023 Census; 

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, on February 8, 2024, millions of Pakistanis participated in Pakistan’s general election, with record numbers 

of women, youth, and members of religious and ethnic 

minority groups registered to vote; 

Whereas Pakistan’s 2024 general election was marked by allegations by credible international and local observers of 

interference in the electoral process, including electoral 

violence, intimidation, arrest of political actors, restrictions to freedom of assembly, restrictions on freedom of 
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expression, and restrictions on access to the internet and 

telecommunications; 

Whereas, on February 9, 2024, the Department of State 

noted that it shared the assessment of observers that the 

election included ‘‘undue restrictions on freedoms of expression, association, and peaceful assembly’’, condemned 

‘‘electoral violence’’ as well as ‘‘restrictions on the exercise of human rights and fundamental freedoms’’, and 

called for the full investigation of fraud or interference in 

Pakistan’s general elections; 

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; and 

Whereas democracy, development, rule of law, and respect for 

human rights and fundamental freedoms are interdependent and mutually reinforcing: 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 strengthen engagement with the Government of 

Pakistan to ensure democracy, human rights, and the 

rule of law are upheld; 
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(3) urges the Government of Pakistan to uphold 

democratic and electoral 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, violence, arbitrary detention, restrictions on access to the internet and telecommunications, or any violation of their human, civil, 

or political rights; 

(5) condemns any effort to subvert the political, 

electoral, or judicial processes of Pakistan; and 

(6) urges the full and independent investigation of 

claims of interference or irregularities in Pakistan’s February 2024 election. 

Attest: 

Clerk.