ISLAMABAD:
The Senate Standing Committee on the Interior on Wednesday approved a bill related to the issuance of blue passports to senators, amid a heated discussion over the alleged misuse of official passports and asylum cases abroad.
During the committee meeting, Minister of State for Home Talal Chaudhry expressed concern over the misuse of blue passports, stating that a son of MNA Iqbal Afridi had traveled to Europe on a blue passport before arriving in Italy and seeking asylum there.
“He surrendered the blue passport there, which caused embarrassment to Pakistan,” Talal Chaudhry told the committee, adding that such incidents negatively affect Pakistan’s international standing.
The minister said the government had tightened rules regarding diplomatic and official passports and significantly reduced their number.
He noted that whenever Pakistan discusses visa-free agreements or signs memorandums of understanding (MoUs) with other countries, questions arise about the number of blue passports issued by Pakistan.
“Blue passports are often misused. Other countries are reluctant to sign MoUs with us because of these cases,” he said. Committee members requested details on the total number of blue passports issued over the past decade.
Senator Talha Mahmood called for full records of all people who have been issued blue passports. Senator Abdul Qadir said that around 60,000 people currently have blue passports, although Talal Chaudhry maintained that the number has reduced considerably.
Some members argued that senators who complete at least three years should be entitled to blue passports. The chairman of the committee noted that parliamentarians should be assisted in this regard. Subsequently, the committee approved the bill on issuing blue passports to senators.
