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 on Monday rejected a private member’s bill that aimed to withdraw diplomatic passport privileges from ministers of state, 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 the proposal interfered with the cabinet’s authority.
PTI Senator Zamir Hussain Ghumro defended the bill, stating that a minister of state should not have exclusive rights to diplomatic passports. The proposed amendments sought to restrict the issuance, re-issuance, and renewal of diplomatic passports to those holding such offices, with existing holders required to surrender their passports within 30 days of the Act's commencement.
The bill clarified that these individuals would not be barred from obtaining or retaining ordinary or official passports if entitled.
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