Senate passes bill allowing blue passports for ex-lawmakers with incomplete term

ISLAMABAD – The Senate on Monday passed a bill allowing blue passports for former lawmakers even if they did not complete their full term, while a separate bill seeking to extend the facility to dependent children was withdrawn.

The House passed an amendment in the Passports Act, 1974, which allows those lawmakers, who leave office before completing their five-year-term as an MNA or six years as a senator, to retain the blue passport.

Blue passport is an official passport that is issued to those Pakistani nationals who are senators, MNAs, ministers, judges of the higher and superior judiciary and officers serving with the government. Holders of official (blue) passports are entitled to visa-free entry into certain countries with which Pakistan has signed bilateral visa-exemption agreements. The amendment 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.”

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According to the statement of objects and reasons of the bill, 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The second bill, which sought to amend Section 12 of the Members of Parliament (Salaries and Allowances) Act, 1974, was withdrawn after opposition from the government. The amendment said 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.”

Senator Abdul Qadir, the mover of the bills, said MNAs get a blue passport even if they served for one year, while senators did not get the facility even after three to five years of service, whereas bureaucrats were also granted such passports.

Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry opposed the move and said the government had concerns over extending the facility to families of members. He added that the large number of blue passports affected the country’s rating while other countries hesitated to offer visa-free access. He noted that Pakistan had agreements with other countries on blue and red passports.

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The minister of state said the government had cut the number of blue passports from 75,000 to 45,000 after European countries and Canada raised reservations. Around 30,000 unnecessary and inactive blue passports had been cancelled, he said.

He also disclosed that a bill would shortly be moved to withdraw the blue passport facility for children of retired bureaucrats.

Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar said blue passports should be regulated as they were meant for official business. “Let children make their own careers, respect is not built through blue passports,” he said.

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The ruling party Senator Abid Sher Ali strongly criticised the requirement of a prior no objection certificate (NoC) from the Interior Ministry for issuance of blue passports to parliamentarians, saying it did not exist earlier. He announced his plan to move a privilege motion over the issue.

Separately, the House witnessed heated arguments between the opposition and the treasury over the imposition of an emergency and governor’s rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Leader of the Opposition in the Senate Raja Nasir Abbas alleged the federal government for what he said launching an assault on the people’s mandate on October 11, saying 98 per cent people rejected the move.

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Referring to the situation in KP, Senator Abbas said what happened there could have been avoided.

Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhary said emergency and governor’s rule were imposed through a presidential order under Articles 233 and 234 of the Constitution and were ratified by the Senate, National Assembly and then a joint sitting.

“All steps have been taken in the interest of peace, stability and national interest,” he said.

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