[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5271 Introduced in House (IH)]
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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 Representatives 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 partner of the
United States.
(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 governments 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 influence by the military-led establishment on
the electoral 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
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.
(7) On February 8, 2024, millions of Pakistanis
participated in Pakistan's most recent general election, 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
continued to be resilient in their efforts to constructively
engage political leaders and government institutions in more
democratic, accountable, and responsive governance.
(8) 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.
(9) 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.
(10) In October 2024, the Government of Pakistan 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 legislation
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 guarantees''.
(13) In August 2025, Pakistan enacted legislation to expand
the powers of security and military forces to carry out
``preventive'' detentions that contravene international human
rights and due process standards, including under the ICCPR.
(14) An essential safeguard of democracy is civilian
command and control of apolitical military and security forces,
and 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''.
(15) Democracy, development, rule of law, and respect for
human rights and fundamental freedoms are interdependent and
mutually reinforcing.
SEC. 3. STATEMENT OF POLICY.
Congress--
(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; and
(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.
SEC. 4. SANCTIONS RELATING TO UNDERMINING DEMOCRACY IN PAKISTAN.
(a) Designation of Persons Responsible for Undermining Democracy in
Pakistan.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the President shall transmit to the
appropriate congressional committees a report identifying--
(A) any senior official or former senior official
of the government, military, or security forces of
Pakistan who the President determines, based on
credible evidence, is responsible for gross violations
of human rights;
(B) any senior official or former senior official
of the government, military, or security forces of
Pakistan who the President determines has committed or
directed gross violations of human rights associated
with undermining democracy in Pakistan; and
(C) any entities owned or controlled by senior
officials or former senior officials of the government,
military, or security forces of Pakistan identified
pursuant to subparagraphs (A) and (B).
(2) Form of report.--The report required under this
subsection may be transmitted in classified form.
(b) Imposition of Sanctions.--The President may impose any or all
of the sanctions described in the Global Magnitsky Human Rights
Accountability Act (22 U.S.C. 2656 note) against any or all of the
foreign persons identified in the report required by subsection (a).
(1) Exception to comply with international obligations.--
Sanctions under paragraph (2) shall not apply with respect to
the admission of an alien if admitting or paroling the alien
into the United States is necessary to permit the United States
to comply with the Agreement regarding the Headquarters of the
United Nations, signed at Lake Success June 26, 1947, and
entered into force November 21, 1947, between the United
Nations and the United States, or other applicable
international obligations.
(2) Exception relating to the provision of humanitarian
assistance.--Sanctions under this section may not be imposed
with respect to transactions or the facilitation of
transactions for--
(A) the sale of agricultural commodities, food,
medicine, or medical devices;
(B) the provision of humanitarian assistance;
(C) financial transactions relating to humanitarian
assistance; or
(D) transporting goods or services that are
necessary to carry out operations relating to
humanitarian assistance.
(3) Exception for intelligence, law enforcement, and
national security activities.--Sanctions under this section
shall not apply to any authorized intelligence, law
enforcement, or national security activities of the United
States.
SEC. 5. APPROPRIATE CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEES DEFINED.
In this Act, the term ``appropriate congressional committees''
means--
(1) the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of
Representatives; and
(2) the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate.
SEC. 6. SUNSET.
This Act shall terminate on September 30, 2030.
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