Expressing support for democracy and human rights in Pakistan.

Bill: 118-hres-901
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. McCormick, Richard [R-GA-6]
Introduced: 2023-11-30
Policy area: International Affairs
Subjects: Asia

Human rights

Pakistan

Sovereignty, recognition, national governance and status
Latest action: action_date: 2024-06-25
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

Summaries:
action_date: 2023-11-30
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <html><body bgcolor="#FFFFFF"><p>This resolution expresses strong support for democracy in Pakistan, including free and fair elections. It calls on the President to work with Pakistan to uphold democracy, human rights, and the rule of law. The resolution also urges Pakistan to uphold democratic institutions and human rights.</p></body></html>

tv_txt: IV 118th CONGRESS 2d Session H. RES. 901 In the House of Representatives, U. S., June 25, 2024 RESOLUTION Expressing support for democracy and human rights in Pakistan.

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, 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 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

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; (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.

Kevin F. McCumber, Clerk.

tv_txt: IV 118th CONGRESS 1st Session H. RES. 901 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); 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 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 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

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 uphold democratic 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, 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.