HRES 901 — Expressing support for democracy and human rights in Pakistan.

901 IntroducedEngrossed in House (IH)](EH)] <DOC> 118th CONGRESS 1st Session H.

RES.Res.

901 ExpressingIn supportthe forHouse democracyof andRepresentatives, humanU. rights in Pakistan.

_______________________________________________________________________S., INJune THE25, HOUSE2024. 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 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;

WhereasWhereas, following the Departmentend of Statethe 2022most Countryrecent Reportperiod onof Humanmilitary Rightsrule Practices reported ``significant human rights issues'' in Pakistan,2008, includingPakistan unlawful,completed arbitrary,its andfirst extrajudicialpeaceful killings,transition forcedof disappearancepower andbetween arbitrarycivilian detentiongovernments led by thedifferent Statepolitical orparties itsin agents,2013, but the takingmilitary ofcontinues politicalto prisoners,exert seriousundue restrictionsinfluence on free expression and media, and substantial interference with the freedompolitics of peacefulthe assemblycountry; and freedom of association;

WhereasWhereas, theduring Humanprevious Rightselections, Commissionmost ofrecently Pakistanin reported2018, theelection Pakistanimonitors policeexpressed usedconcern excessiveabout forceconstraints on Pakistanithe citizensfreedom duringof atexpression leastand 20freedom protestsof inassociation 2022,and resultingnoted inallegations the death of atinfluence leastby 4the protestersmilitary-led andestablishment injuringon andthe detainingelectoral manyprocess; others;

Whereas,Whereas the Department of State's Country Report on AprilHuman 3,Rights 2022,Practices Presidenthas Arifoften Alvihighlighted dissolvedsignificant Pakistan'shuman Nationalrights Assemblyissues onin thePakistan adviceacross ofmultiple formeryears, Primeincluding Ministerunlawful, Imranarbitrary, Khan,and butextrajudicial killings, forced disappearance and arbitrary detention by the dissolutionstate orderor wasits subsequentlyagents, setthe asidetaking byof political prisoners, serious restrictions on free expression and media, and substantial interference with the Supremefreedom Courtof peaceful assembly and freedom of Pakistan;association;

Whereas, on April 9, 2022, a vote of no-confidence motion in the National Assembly againstvoted Imran Khan led to hisremove removalImran Khan as Prime Minister through a vote of Pakistan;no-confidence motion;

Whereas, on AprilAugust 11,10, 2022,2023, ShehbazPresident SharifArif wasAlvi electeddissolved unopposedPakistan's byNational Assembly on the Nationaladvice Assemblyof Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to replaceallow Imranfor Khannew aselections, Primealthough Minister,the asElection Commission of Pakistan Tehreek-e-subsequently Insafannounced (PTI)the memberspostponement boycottedof theelections voteuntil andFebruary resigned2024 ento masseredraw fromconstituencies of the National Assembly;Assembly to reflect the 2023 Census;

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 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;

and Whereas democracy, development, rule of law, and respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms are interdependent and mutually reinforcing;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'':

(2) calls on the President and the Secretary of State to workstrengthen 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;

and (5) condemns any effort to subvert the political, electoral, or judicial processes of Pakistan.Pakistan;

<all>and (6) urges the full and independent investigation of claims of interference or irregularities in Pakistan's February 2024 election.

Attest:

Clerk.