441-02431 (Foreign affairs)

We, the undersigned citizens and residents of Canada, draw the attention of the House of Commons to the following:

Whereas:

Concern is rising among Pakistani Canadians regarding political unrest and socioeconomic turmoil in Pakistan;

There is growing concern regarding reports of politically motivated acts of violence and threats against opposition parties and their followers, by members of the Pakistani military and their agents in the run up to general elections in Pakistan later this year; and

There is grave concern about the recent arrest of former Pakistani Prime Minister, Imran Khan, and the steps being taken by the Pakistani military and its agents to limit participation in general elections by the former Prime Minister and Pakistan's largest opposition party.

Therefore we, the undersigned citizens and residents of Canada, call upon the House of Commons to:

• 1. Ask the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development to immediately explore the feasibility of imposing Magnitsky sanctions on Pakistani military members responsible for these acts;

• 2. Ask the Government of Canada to use its membership in the International Monetary Fund to require the issuance of new and current loans and the extension of existing loans to the Government of Pakistan to be conditional on Pakistan holding free and fair elections; and

• 3. Require these measures to be continued until free and fair elections are held later this year with the participation of all opposition parties and leaders.