[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2311 Introduced in House (IH)]
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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 2311
To authorize the imposition of sanctions with respect to certain
foreign persons who have knowingly engaged in the wrongful persecution
and imprisonment of political opponents in Pakistan, and for other
purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
March 24, 2025
Mr. Wilson of South Carolina (for himself and Mr. Panetta) 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 authorize the imposition of sanctions with respect to certain
foreign persons who have knowingly engaged in the wrongful persecution
and imprisonment of political opponents in Pakistan, and for other
purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Pakistan Democracy Act''.
SEC. 2. STATEMENT OF POLICY.
It is the policy of the United States to support a democratic
Pakistan, including free and fair elections, that is based upon
civilian rule, restoration of judicial independence, rule of law, human
rights, and due process of law for all of the people of Pakistan.
SEC. 3. DETERMINATION REGARDING GENERAL ASIM MUNIR.
(a) Sanctions.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State, acting in conjunction
with the Secretary of the Treasury, shall impose sanctions on General
Asim Munir, Chief of Army Staff of Pakistan, the Global Magnitsky Human
Rights Accountability Act (22 U.S.C. 10101 et seq.).
(b) Waiver.--The President may waive subsection (a) if the
President certifies to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, and the
Senate Committee on Foreign Relations that--
(1) military rule has ended in Pakistan and rule of law and
civilian-led democracy has been restored; and
(2) all wrongfully detained political detainees have been
released from detention.
SEC. 4. AUTHORIZATION OF SANCTIONS.
(a) Inadmissibility of Officials and Individuals Involved in the
Wrongful Persecution and Imprisonment of Imran Khan.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the President shall identify key
individuals who are knowingly engaged the wrongful persecution
and imprisonment of political detainees in Pakistan including
but not limited to former Prime Minister Imran Khan or
significantly undermined democracy and furthered military rule
for the people of Pakistan including--
(A) such individuals who have served as a member of
the Government or military of Pakistan; and
(B) such individuals who are serving as an official
in a leadership position working on behalf of the
Government or military of Pakistan, including law
enforcement, intelligence, judicial, or local or
municipal government.
(2) Ineligibility for visas, admission, or parole.--
(A) Visas, admission, or parole.--An alien with
respect to which the President has made an affirmative
decision under paragraph (1) shall be--
(i) inadmissible to the United States;
(ii) ineligible to receive a visa or other
documentation to enter the United States; and
(iii) otherwise ineligible to be admitted
or paroled into the United States or to receive
any other benefit under the Immigration and
Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101 et 16 seq.).
(B) Current visas revoked.--
(i) In general.--The visa or other entry
documentation of any alien described in
paragraph (1) is subject to revocation
regardless of the issue date of the visa or
other entry documentation.
(ii) Immediate effect.--A revocation under
subclause (I) shall, in accordance with section
221(i) of the Immigration and Nationality Act
(8 U.S.C. 1201(i)) take effect immediately, and
cancel any other valid visa or entry
documentation that is in the possession of the
alien.
(3) Briefing.--Not later than 90 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall brief the
appropriate committees of Congress with respect to--
(A) any foreign person with respect to which the
President has made an affirmative determination under
paragraph (1); and
(B) the specific facts that justify each such
affirmative determination.
(4) Waiver.--The President may waive imposition of
sanctions under this subsection on a case-by-case basis if the
President determines and certifies to the appropriate
committees of Congress that--
(A) such waiver would serve national interests; or
(B) the circumstances which caused the individual
to be ineligible have sufficiently changed.
(b) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Admission; admitted; alien.--The terms ``admission'',
``admitted'', and ``alien'' have the meanings given such terms
in section 101 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C.
1101).
(2) Appropriate committees of congress.--The term
``appropriate committees of Congress'' means--
(A) the Committee on Foreign Affairs, the Committee
on the Judiciary, and the Committee on Financial
Services of the House of Representatives; and
(B) the Committee on Foreign Relations, the
Committee on the Judiciary, and the Committee on
Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs of the Senate.
(3) Foreign person.--The term ``foreign person'' means any
individual that is not a United States person.
(4) Immediate family members.--The term ``immediate family
members'' has the meaning given the term ``immediate
relatives'' in section 1151(b)(2)(A)(i) of the Immigration and
Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1151(b)(2)(A)(i)).
(5) Knowingly.--The term ``knowingly'', with respect to
conduct, a circumstance, or a result, means that a person has
actual knowledge, or should have known, of the conduct, the
circumstance, or the result.
(6) United states person.--The term ``United States
person'' means--
(A) a United States citizen or an alien lawfully
admitted for permanent residence to the United States;
or
(B) any person within the United States.
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