The Senate on Monday approved a bill allowing former lawmakers to retain their official blue passports even if they served only part of a parliamentary term, while a separate proposal to extend the privilege to their dependent children under 28 was withdrawn following opposition from treasury members.
According to the details, the approved amendment to the Passports Act, 1974, would cover former members of the National Assembly and Senate who took the oath of office but left before completing a full term. The measure, however, must still clear the National Assembly before it can become law.
Official blue passports are issued to designated constitutional office-holders, government and judicial officials, senior bureaucrats and their eligible dependents. They provide visa-free access to 55 countries, including 22 in Europe, according to the report.
Both bills were moved by Senator Abdul Qadir. The approved legislation proposes inserting a new Section 3-A into the Passports Act, allowing a former parliamentarian to retain and use a gratis official passport after leaving office, whether they served a full term or completed only the remainder of another member's tenure.
Under the existing rules, National Assembly members become eligible for blue passports after taking the oath, while senators must complete their six-year term to qualify. The amendment seeks to remove that disparity by allowing former lawmakers from either House to retain their official passports even if they leave office before completing a full term.
The proposed provision states that "a retired parliamentarian who has taken oath as a Member of the National Assembly or the Senate, whether for a full term or for the remainder of the term of another member, shall, on such terms and conditions as may be prescribed, be entitled to retain and use the gratis official (blue) passport issued to him or her after ceasing to hold office".
The change would cover lawmakers who leave the National Assembly before completing 5 years or the Senate before completing 6 years. Under the existing Passport Rules 2021, former parliamentarians qualify for blue passports if they have served at least one full term in either House.
The bill's statement of objects and reasons says 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 Senate also withdrew a separate bill proposing blue passports for former lawmakers' spouses and dependent children under 28 after treasury members opposed the measure.
The proposed amendment to Section 12 of the Members of Parliament (Salaries and Allowances) Act, 1974, stated that "an ex-member, the spouse of the ex-member and the dependent children of the ex-member below the age of 28 years shall be entitled to a gratis official (blue) passport".
The proposal had been approved by the relevant Senate committee in July, drawing criticism over the extension of an official travel privilege to family members. Minister of State for Interior Tallal Chaudhry had subsequently said steps would be taken to ensure the documents were used for "only official duties" abroad and issued for limited periods in most cases.
Addressing the Senate on Monday, Chaudhry said the number of official blue passports issued in Pakistan had fallen from 75,000 to 45,000 after European countries and Canada raised concerns.