Key Takeaways
- The Senate passed a bill allowing former lawmakers to retain blue passports even if they did not serve a full term.
- Blue passports are issued to key government and judicial officials, providing visa-free entry to 55 countries.
- The bill covers lawmakers who leave office before completing their terms, ensuring uniform treatment.
The Senate in Islamabad has passed a bill that allows former lawmakers to retain blue passports even if they did not serve a full term in the National Assembly (NA) or Senate. The bill, moved by Senator Abdul Qadir, seeks to bring parity with the privileges available to other high-ranking officials.
Blue passports, which are issued to key constitutional, government, and judicial office holders, senior bureaucrats, and their eligible dependents, provide visa-free entry to 55 countries, including 22 European nations. The amendment inserted a new Section 3-A in the Passports Act, 1974, stating that retired parliamentarians who have taken an oath as Members of the National Assembly (MNA) or the Senate, whether for a full term or the remainder of another member's term, shall be entitled to retain and use the gratis official (blue) passport after ceasing to hold office.
The bill covers lawmakers who leave office before completing their terms, ensuring uniform treatment. Currently, blue passports are issued to those ex-parliamentarians who remained a member of either House for at least one term, according to the Passport Rules 2021.
The statement of objects and reasons of the bill approved by the Senate states that the amendment 'brings parity with the privileges available to other high-ranking officials and ensures uniform treatment of persons who have served the state at the highest level.'
The second bill, which sought to provide blue passports to the spouses and dependent children of ex-members of Parliament under the age of 28, was withdrawn after opposition by treasury members in the Senate. In July, the bill had been approved by the relevant Senate committee, with the government facing backlash.
Minister of State for Interior Tallal Chaudhry assured that measures would be taken to ensure that the travel document was used for 'only official duties' abroad and issued for a limited time in most cases. He also mentioned that the number of official passports issued in the country had been reduced from 75,000 to 45,000 after European countries and Canada raised reservations. Around 30,000 unnecessary and inactive blue passports had been cancelled.
Chaudhry emphasized the security and dignity of the passport, noting that Pakistan also had agreements with other countries regarding blue and red passports. He stated that the government had no issue with parliamentarians themselves getting blue passports.
