Senate of Pakistan has approved an amendment that would allow former senators and members of the National Assembly to obtain a permanent official blue passport after leaving office, even if they did not complete a full parliamentary term.
The bill was passed on Monday, October 19, following a proposal moved by Senator Abdul Qadir. It seeks to amend the Passports Act 1974.
However, the legislation still requires approval from the National Assembly before it can become law.
The officials said that the amendment would bring the eligibility rules for former lawmakers into line, regardless of whether they served a full term or only the remainder of another member’s term.
Under the existing rules, former members of parliament generally qualify for official blue passports if they have served at least one full term.
The proposed amendment would allow lawmakers who leave office before completing a full term to retain and use their official passports, subject to prescribed conditions.
The bill’s stated aim is to ensure equal treatment of former lawmakers and bring the rules governing the two houses of parliament into line.
The proposal comes amid wider debate in Pakistan over the issuance of official passports and the privileges available to elected representatives and government officials.
Blue passports are issued to eligible constitutional office-holders, government officials and certain other categories of people for official purposes. They are distinct from ordinary Pakistani passports.
During earlier discussions, government officials raised concerns about the number of blue passports in circulation and the potential effect on Pakistan’s efforts to secure visa-free travel arrangements with other countries.
Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry has said that the government reduced the number of official blue passports from 75,000 to 45,000, with around 30,000 inactive or unnecessary passports cancelled.
The Senate also approved a Criminal Laws Amendment Bill moved by Senator Fauzia Arshad, according to 24NewsHD’s report of the session. The available reporting did not provide sufficient detail to establish the precise provisions of that bill.
