Senate approves bill seeking blue passports for ex-lawmakers with incomplete term
ISLAMABAD: The Senate on Monday passed a bill that sought to allow former lawmakers to have blue passports even if they had not served a full term in the National Assembly (NA) or Senate. In the same sitting, the House rejected a bill seeking to allow the issuance of blue passports to dependent children under the age of 28 of ex-members of Parliament. Official blue passports are issued to key…
The Senate approved a bill on Monday that would permit former lawmakers to possess blue passports, even if they had not served a full term in either the National Assembly or the Senate. Concurrently, the House rejected a proposal to issue blue passports to the dependent children under the age of 28 of former Members of Parliament.
Official blue passports grant visa-free entry to 55 countries, including 22 European nations. Senator Abdul Qadir introduced both bills. The House passed the amendment to Section 3-A of the Passports Act 1974, which grants retired parliamentarians entitlement to a gratis official (blue) passport upon leaving office, provided they meet specified conditions.
This amendment also includes lawmakers who leave office before completing their term. Presently, blue passports are issued to those who served a full term. The bill must still be approved by the National Assembly. The second bill, which aimed to allow blue passports for the spouse and dependent children of ex-members of Parliament under 28, was withdrawn due to opposition from treasury members in the Senate.
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