ISLAMABAD:
The Senate Standing Committee on the Interior approved a bill on Wednesday regarding the issuance of blue passports to senators, amid a heated debate over alleged misuse of official passports and asylum cases abroad.
During the committee meeting, Interior Minister Talal Chaudhry raised concerns regarding misuse of blue passports, stating that a son of MNA Iqbal Afridi had traveled to Europe on a blue passport before later reaching Italy and seeking asylum there.
“He handed over the blue passport there, causing embarrassment to Pakistan,” Talal Chaudhry told the committee, adding that such incidents adversely affect Pakistan’s international standing.
The minister said the government had tightened the rules regarding diplomatic and official passports and significantly reduced their number.
He noted that when Pakistan discusses visa-free arrangements or signs memorandums of understanding (MoU) with other countries, questions are raised about the number of blue passports issued by Pakistan.
“Blue passports are often misused. Other countries become reluctant to sign MoUs with us because of such cases,” he said. Committee members sought details of the total number of Blue Passports issued over the past decade.
Senator Talha Mahmood called for full records of all people who had been issued blue passports. Senator Abdul Qadir claimed that around 60,000 people currently hold blue passports, although Talal Chaudhry maintained that the number had now been significantly reduced.
Some members argued that senators who complete at least three years should be entitled to blue passports. The committee chairman noted that parliamentarians should be relieved in this regard. The committee later approved the bill to issue blue passports to senators.
