H.R. 5271

[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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