I 
119TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 5271 
To impose sanctions relating to undermining democracy in Pakistan. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
SEPTEMBER 10, 2025 
Mr. HUIZENGA (for himself, Ms. KAMLAGER-DOVE, Mr. MOOLENAAR, Ms. 
JOHNSON of Texas, and Mr. SHREVE) introduced the following bill; which 
was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the 
Committee on the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined 
by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall 
within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To impose sanctions relating to undermining democracy in 
Pakistan. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Pakistan Freedom and 
Accountability Act’’. 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds the following: 
(1) Pakistan is an important and valued part-
ner of the United States. 
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(2) On December 10, 1948, Pakistan became 
one of the original signatories to, and supported the 
creation of, the Universal Declaration of Human 
Rights (UDHR). 
(3) On June 23, 2010, Pakistan ratified the 
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights 
(ICCPR). 
(4) Following the end of the most recent period 
of military rule in 2008, Pakistan completed its first 
peaceful transition of power between civilian govern-
ments led by different political parties in 2013, but 
the military continues to exert undue influence on 
the politics of the country. 
(5) During previous elections, such as the ones 
held in 2018, election monitors expressed concern 
about constraints on the freedom of expression and 
freedom of association and noted allegations of influ-
ence by the military-led establishment on the elec-
toral process. 
(6) 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, forced disappearance and arbi-
trary detention by the state or its agents, the taking 
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of political prisoners, serious restrictions on free ex-
pression and media, and substantial interference 
with the freedom of peaceful assembly and freedom 
of association. 
(7) On February 8, 2024, millions of Pakistanis 
participated in Pakistan’s most recent general elec-
tion, with record numbers of women, youth, and 
members of religious and ethnic minority groups 
registered to vote Pakistan’s civil society—including 
women’s networks and youth groups—have contin-
ued to be resilient in their efforts to constructively 
engage political leaders and government institutions 
in more democratic, accountable, and responsive gov-
ernance. 
(8) Pakistan’s 2024 general election was 
marked by allegations by credible international and 
local observers of interference in the electoral proc-
ess, including electoral violence, intimidation, arrest 
of political actors, restrictions to freedom of assem-
bly, restrictions on freedom of expression, and re-
strictions on access to the internet and telecommuni-
cations. 
(9) On February 9, 2024, the Department of 
State noted that it shared the assessment of observ-
ers that the election included ‘‘undue restrictions on 
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freedoms of expression, association, and peaceful as-
sembly’’, condemned ‘‘electoral violence’’ as well as 
‘‘restrictions on the exercise of human rights and 
fundamental freedoms’’, and called for the full inves-
tigation of fraud or interference in Pakistan’s gen-
eral elections. 
(10) In October 2024, the Government of Paki-
stan ratified the 26th Amendment to the Pakistani 
constitution, which increased political influence on 
the Judicial Commission of Pakistan and over the 
process to appoint the Chief Justice of Pakistan. 
(11) In November 2024, Pakistan adopted leg-
islation extending the terms of military service chiefs 
for two years. 
(12) On December 23, 2024, the Department of 
State criticized the use of military courts against 
Pakistani civilians, noting that they lack ‘‘judicial 
independence, transparency, and due process guar-
antees’’. 
(13) In August 2025, Pakistan enacted legisla-
tion to expand the powers of security and military 
forces to carry out ‘‘preventive’’ detentions that con-
travene international human rights and due process 
standards, including under the ICCPR. 
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