Bill Details
HR.2311 - 119th Congress
Status
Latest action
2025-03-24 - 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.
Introduced Date
2025-03-24
Policy Area
International Affairs
Committees
View committees (2)
Cosponsors
View cosponsors (17)
- Rep. Panetta, Jimmy [D-California-19]
- Rep. Khanna, Ro [D-California-17]
- Rep. Krishnamoorthi, Raja [D-Illinois-8]
- Rep. LaLota, Nick [R-New York-1]
- Rep. Carson, André [D-Indiana-7]
- Rep. Swalwell, Eric [D-California-14]
- Rep. Olszewski, Johnny [D-Maryland-2]
- Rep. Castro, Joaquin [D-Texas-20]
- Rep. Subramanyam, Suhas [D-Virginia-10]
- Rep. Jackson, Jonathan L. [D-Illinois-1]
- Rep. Pocan, Mark [D-Wisconsin-2]
- Rep. Bilirakis, Gus M. [R-Florida-12]
- Rep. Lee, Summer L. [D-Pennsylvania-12]
- Rep. McGovern, James P. [D-Massachusetts-2]
- Rep. Smith, Christopher H. [R-New Jersey-4]
- Rep. Wasserman Schultz, Debbie [D-Florida-25]
- Rep. McDonald Rivet, Kristen [D-Michigan-8]
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AI Summary This summary was generated by AI from the bill text. AI can get information wrong.
This bill says the United States should support a democratic Pakistan with fair elections, civilian rule, independent courts, rule of law, and human rights. It would require sanctions against Pakistan’s army chief, General Asim Munir, and allow the U.S. to punish other foreign officials who are believed to have helped persecute or imprison political opponents, including people linked to the detention of former Prime Minister Imran Khan. The bill also gives the President some power to waive these penalties if conditions in Pakistan improve or if the U.S. national interest requires it.
- Within 180 days, the Secretary of State and the Treasury Secretary would have to impose sanctions on General Asim Munir under the Global Magnitsky human rights law.
- The President could lift those sanctions only after certifying that military rule has ended, civilian democracy has returned, and all wrongfully detained political prisoners have been released.
- Within 180 days, the President would also need to identify other foreign people who knowingly took part in the wrongful persecution or imprisonment of political detainees, or who helped weaken democracy and support military rule in Pakistan.
- Anyone identified under that process could be denied visas, entry, parole, and other immigration benefits, and any current visa could be revoked. The President could waive these penalties in individual cases if it serves U.S. interests or if the person’s situation has changed enough.
Official Summaries
No summaries available
Current Full Text
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2311 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
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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