A bipartisan group of US lawmakers has introduced a bill seeking sanctions against Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Syed Asim Munir and other officials for allegedly persecuting political opponents, including imprisoned former Prime Minister Imran Khan.
The legislation, titled the ‘Pakistan Democracy Act’, was proposed by Republican Joe Wilson and Democrat Jimmy Panetta, son of former CIA Director and Secretary of Defence Leon Panetta. If enacted, it would impose sanctions within 180 days under the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act of 2017, which the US has previously used to penalise foreign officials.
According to The Hill, which accessed the bill, it accuses Munir of “knowingly engaging in the wrongful persecution and imprisonment of political opponents.” The legislation also calls for identifying and sanctioning other officials allegedly involved in such actions.
Wilson shared his support for the bill on X, posting, “I am grateful to introduce the Pakistan Democracy Act to sanction those undermining democracy in Pakistan!” alongside a picture of Imran Khan.
To become law, the bill must pass both the House of Representatives and the Senate before being signed by President Donald Trump.
Wilson had announced his plan to introduce the legislation in February, emphasising sanctions on Pakistani generals and officials. “Grateful to be nearly finished drafting the Pakistan Democracy Act. The bill sets down that it is US policy to restore democracy in Pakistan. Mandates a 30-day determination of sanctions on Asim Munir. Reviews all generals and gov officials & their families for sanctions,” he wrote at the time.
Imran Khan was ousted from office in 2022 through a no-confidence vote by the opposition coalition. He was succeeded by Shehbaz Sharif, who completed Khan’s term and later won the 2024 general election, securing a full tenure.
