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 Paki-
stan’s recovery from the devastating 2022 floods, includ-
ing through resources to rebuild damaged infrastructure, 
invest in clean energy, promote food security, and sup-
port 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 Inter-
national 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 arbi-
trary 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 de-
taining 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 re-
moval as Prime Minister of Pakistan; 
Whereas, on April 11, 2022, Shehbaz Sharif was elected un-
opposed 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 Na-
tional 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 In-
terests and the Election Commission of Pakistan subse-
quently 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 Min-
ister Shehbaz Sharif; 
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 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; 
Whereas democracy, development, rule of law, and respect for 
human rights and fundamental freedoms are inter-
dependent and mutually reinforcing; 
Whereas President Biden in the March 2023 second Summit 
for Democracy called strengthening democracy the ‘‘de-
fining 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 
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 up-
hold democratic institutions, human rights, and the 
rule of law, and respect the fundamental guarantees 
of due process, freedom of press, freedom of assem-
bly, and freedom of speech of the people of Pakistan; 
(4) condemns attempts to suppress the people 
of Pakistan’s participation in their democracy, in-
cluding 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. 
Æ 
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