The proposed amendment would let former MNAs and senators retain official blue passports even if they leave Parliament before completing a full term. The bill still needs National Assembly approval.
ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN — WEB DESK: Pakistan’s Senate has passed a bill allowing former members of the National Assembly and Senate to retain their official blue passports even if they leave Parliament before completing a full term. The proposed amendment to the Passports Act, 1974, must still be approved by the National Assembly before it can become law.
The bill, moved by Senator Abdul Qadir, seeks to change the eligibility rules for former parliamentarians who have taken the oath of office but served only part of a parliamentary term.
According to reports the measure proposes adding a new Section 3-A to the Passports Act. It would allow former lawmakers to retain and use their gratis official passports after leaving office, subject to prescribed terms and conditions.
What the proposed amendment would change
Under the existing rules, former parliamentarians generally qualify for official blue passports after serving at least one full term. The rules differ between the two houses: members of the National Assembly serve a five-year term, while senators serve six years.
The proposed amendment would remove the full-term requirement for former members who have taken the oath of office. It would cover lawmakers who served a complete term as well as those who served only the remainder of another member’s tenure.
The bill’s stated objective is to bring eligibility rules into line with privileges available to other high-ranking officials and provide more consistent treatment to former members of both houses.
However, the Senate’s approval does not make the amendment law. The National Assembly must still consider and approve the bill.
Separate proposal on family passports withdrawn
During the same sitting, a separate proposal to extend official blue passports to the spouses and dependent children under the age of 28 of former parliamentarians was withdrawn after opposition from treasury members.
The proposal had sought to amend the Members of Parliament (Salaries and Allowances) Act, 1974. It would have extended the passport facility beyond former lawmakers themselves to eligible family members.
The two proposals therefore followed different paths: the Senate passed the amendment concerning former lawmakers, while the family-passport proposal was withdrawn.
Government raises concerns over official passports
During the Senate debate, Minister of State for Interior Tallal Chaudhry discussed the government’s efforts to tighten controls over official passports.
Chaudhry said the number of blue passports issued in Pakistan had declined from 75,000 to 45,000 after around 30,000 passports considered unnecessary or inactive were cancelled. He also stressed the importance of protecting the standing of Pakistani travel documents internationally.
Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar called for tighter regulation and said official passports should be intended for government business. The debate also highlighted concerns about extending the facility to family members.
Official blue passports are issued to designated constitutional office-holders, government and judicial officials, senior bureaucrats and other eligible individuals under applicable rules. They are distinct from ordinary Pakistani passports.
