Bill targets Pakistan officials for Magnitsky sanctions
In committeeH.R. 5271Latest action
Sponsor: Bill Huizenga · Representative · MI
AIDecoded by AI · checked against the recordRead the official text
Official title: Pakistan Freedom and Accountability Act
119th Congress
Topics: Security & foreign affairs
Introduced:
Read the official bill on Congress.govIn plain words
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This bill would let the U.S. freeze assets and ban travel for Pakistani officials found responsible for human rights abuses or undermining democracy.
45-second read · 4 questions answered below
What does this do?
Within 180 days of becoming law, the president must identify specific current or former Pakistani government, military, or security officials who committed serious human rights violations or undermined democracy, plus any companies they control. The president would then have the authority to impose Global Magnitsky sanctions on those individuals, which can freeze their assets and ban them from entering the United States. The law would automatically expire on September 30, 2030.
Who does it affect?
The bill targets only specific named Pakistani officials found responsible for abuses, not ordinary Pakistani citizens. Exceptions protect humanitarian aid, food, medicine, agricultural goods, medical devices, and U.S. intelligence or national security operations.
Why does it matter?
If sanctions are imposed, targeted individuals could lose access to assets and be barred from entering the United States. Because exceptions are built in, aid and essential goods flowing to Pakistan would not be blocked.
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Where does it stand?
- IntroducedSep 10, 2025
- House committeeYou are here · Sep 10, 2025
- House vote
- Senate
- The president's desk
Right now: a House committee is reviewing it. If the Senate changes it, it goes back to the House before reaching the president.
Latest action: — 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.