Senate blocks move to withdraw diplomatic passport privileges from state ministers, advisers
ISLAMABAD: The Senate on Monday blocked a private member’s bill seeking to withdraw the free-for-all issuance of diplomatic passports to ministers of state, advisers, special assistants and senior bureaucrats and rejected the motion for introduction of the Passports (Amendment) Bill, 2026. The bill was moved by PTI Senator Faisal Saleem Rehman, chairman of the Senate Standing Committee on…
The Senate in Pakistan recently rejected a private member's bill that proposed withdrawing diplomatic passport privileges from state ministers, advisers, special assistants, and senior bureaucrats. The bill, introduced by PTI Senator Faisal Saleem Rehman, was opposed by State Minister for Interior Tallal Chaudhry, who argued that it interfered with the cabinet's authority.
Senators Faisal Saleem Rehman, Samina Mumtaz Zehri, and Saifullah Abro presented the bill, which sought to amend the Passports Act 1974 by introducing a new Section 12A to restrict the issuance of diplomatic passports to certain high-ranking officials. The bill aimed to ensure that diplomatic passports were only granted for diplomatic functions and not as a privilege attached to rank or status.
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