IV 

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); 


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•HRES 901 IH 

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 


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•HRES 901 IH 

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 


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•HRES 901 IH 

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 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) affirms its strong support for democracy in 

3 Pakistan, including free and fair elections reflecting 

4 the will of the people of Pakistan; 

5 (2) calls on the President and the Secretary of 

6 State to work with the Government of Pakistan to 

7 ensure democracy, human rights, and the rule of law 

8 are upheld; 

9 (3) urges the Government of Pakistan to up10 hold democratic institutions, human rights, and the 

11 rule of law, and respect the fundamental guarantees 

12 of due process, freedom of press, freedom of assem13 bly, and freedom of speech of the people of Pakistan; 

14 (4) condemns attempts to suppress the people 

15 of Pakistan’s participation in their democracy, in16 cluding through harassment, intimidation, arbitrary 

17 detention, or any violation of their human, civil, or 

18 political rights; and 

19 (5) condemns any effort to subvert the political, 

20 electoral, or judicial processes of Pakistan. 

Æ 


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