Expresses grave concern about the implications for security and stability in the South Asia region in light of the history of tensions between India and Pakistan and the fact that both nations have recently tested nuclear devices. Urges both countries to exercise restraint.
Calls for the immediate restoration of a civilian, democratically-elected government in Pakistan and the restoration of democracy and the rule of law.
Urges the armed forces of Pakistan to respect the human rights of all Pakistani citizens, including those members of the national government who are currently being illegally detained in violation of their constitutional and human rights.
Calls on the President not to consider exercising the waiver authority which would be granted to him by the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2000 (presented by Congress on October 14, 1999, for the President's approval), to allow the sale of any military equipment or services to Pakistan, or reinstatement of Pakistan's eligibility for international military education and training, until a civilian, democratically-elected government is returned to power.
[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 200 Introduced in House (IH)]
106th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. CON. RES. 200
Expressing the strong opposition of Congress to the military coup in
Pakistan and calling for a civilian, democratically-elected government
to be returned to power in Pakistan.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
October 19, 1999
Mr. Gejdenson (for himself, Mr. Lantos, Mr. Ackerman, and Mr. Pallone)
submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to
the Committee on International Relations
_______________________________________________________________________
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
Expressing the strong opposition of Congress to the military coup in
Pakistan and calling for a civilian, democratically-elected government
to be returned to power in Pakistan.
Whereas the United States has a vital interest in promoting stability in South
Asia, reducing tensions between India and Pakistan, and promoting United
States political, economic, strategic, and humanitarian interests in
both of those nations;
Whereas on October 12, 1999, the armed forces of Pakistan, led by Army Chief of
Staff General Pervez Musharraf, overthrew the democratically-elected
Government of Pakistan in violation of the Constitution of the Islamic
Republic of Pakistan;
Whereas on October 15, 1999, General Musharraf declared a state of emergency,
suspended Pakistan's Constitution, dismissed the national government and
the legislature, and declared himself Pakistan's supreme leader;
Whereas Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, his brother Shabaz Sharif who was
the chief minister of Punjab, and several cabinet members have been
placed under house arrest;
Whereas the United States has a vital interest in the promotion of democracy
abroad and is strongly opposed to military takeovers of democratically-
elected governments;
Whereas the United States has invoked section 508 of the Foreign Operations,
Export Financing, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 1999, as
enacted by division A of the Omnibus Consolidated and Emergency
Supplemental Appropriations Act, 1999 (Public Law 105-277), which
provides that none of the funds appropriated or otherwise made available
under that Act may be obligated or expended to finance directly any
assistance to any country whose duly elected head of government is
deposed by military coup or decree;
Whereas Pakistan's military rulers must understand that the United States will
not carry on a business-as-usual relationship until a civilian,
democratically-elected government is returned to power;
Whereas the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2000 (presented by
Congress on October 14, 1999, for the President's approval), would grant
the President the ability to waive sanctions against India and Pakistan
otherwise required under section 102(b) of the Arms Export Control Act
(22 U.S.C. 2799aa-1) and section 620E(e) of the Foreign Assistance Act
of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2375), and would also grant the President, for the
first time since the invocation of section 620E(e) of the Foreign
Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2375), the ability to approve
commercial and government-to-government military sales to Pakistan;
Whereas Congress believes that the United States should not consider the sale of
any military equipment or services, or reinstatement of Pakistan's
eligibility for international military education and training, until a
civilian, democratically-elected government is returned to power in
Pakistan; and
Whereas the military has been in control of Pakistan for 25 of Pakistan's 52-
year history, and no democratically-elected head of state there has
completed an elected term of office: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring),
That Congress--
(1) condemns the overthrow of the democratically-elected
Government of Pakistan by the armed forces of Pakistan on
October 12, 1999, in violation of the Constitution of the
Islamic Republic of Pakistan;
(2) further condemns the subsequent declaration by General
Musharraf of a state of emergency, the suspension of Pakistan's
Constitution, the dismissal of the national government and the
legislature, and the declaration of himself as Pakistan's
supreme leader;
(3) expresses grave concern about the implications for
security and stability in the South Asia region, in light of
the history of tensions between India and Pakistan and the fact
that both nations have recently tested nuclear devices, and
urges both of those countries to exercise restraint in the
current environment;
(4) calls for the immediate restoration of a civilian,
democratically-elected government in Pakistan, including the
legislature, and the restoration of democracy and the rule of
law;
(5) urges the armed forces of Pakistan to respect the human
rights of all Pakistani citizens, including those members of
the national government who are currently being illegally
detained in violation of their constitutional and human rights;
and
(6) calls on the President not to consider exercising the
waiver authority which would be granted to him by the
Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2000 (presented by
Congress on October 14, 1999, for the President's approval), to
allow the sale of any military equipment or services to
Pakistan, or reinstatement of Pakistan's eligibility for
international military education and training, until a
civilian, democratically-elected government is returned to
power in Pakistan.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on International Relations.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific.
Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee (Amended) by Voice Vote.
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