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 Inter-
national Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR); 
Whereas, following the end of the most recent period of mili-
tary rule in 2008, Pakistan completed its first peaceful 
transition of power between civilian governments led by 
different political parties in 2013, but the military con-
tinues 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 estab-
lishment 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 re-
strictions 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, al-
though the Election Commission of Pakistan subse-
quently 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 com-
mitted to safeguarding and upholding the rights of all its 
citizens’’, and that the Government ‘‘would provide con-
stitutional continuity till the next general elections are 
held in the country’’; 
Whereas, on February 8, 2024, millions of Pakistanis partici-
pated 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 al-
legations by credible international and local observers of 
interference in the electoral process, including electoral 
violence, intimidation, arrest of political actors, restric-
tions 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 ex-
pression, association, and peaceful assembly’’, condemned 
‘‘electoral violence’’ as well as ‘‘restrictions on the exer-
cise 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 Fed-
eral 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 com-
mand and control of apolitical military and security 
forces; and 
Whereas democracy, development, rule of law, and respect for 
human rights and fundamental freedoms are inter-
dependent 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 de-
tention, restrictions on access to the internet and tele-
communications, 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 Feb-
ruary 2024 election. 
Attest: 
Clerk.