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

Former parliamentarians who had not served a full term in the National Assembly (NA) or Senate could retain their official blue passports if a bill passed by the Senate on Monday becomes law.

The amendment to the Passports Act, 1974, removes the requirement for former members of the National Assembly and Senate to have served at least one complete term to qualify for the facility.

Under the proposed change, any former lawmaker who took oath as a member of either House would be eligible to retain and use the gratis official passport after leaving office, subject to prescribed terms and conditions.

This would also cover those who served only the remainder of another member’s term or left before completing the five-year National Assembly or six-year Senate term.

The Senate approved the amendment moved by Senator Abdul Qadir. The bill must also clear the National Assembly before it can proceed further.

In a separate development during Monday’s sitting, the Senate withdrew another bill that sought to extend blue passports to dependent children under the age of 28 of former parliamentarians.

The statement of objects and reasons for the approved amendment says the change is intended to bring the treatment of former lawmakers in line with privileges available to other high-ranking officials who have served the state.

Blue passports are issued to eligible senior government, constitutional and judicial officials and their dependents. They provide visa-free access to 55 countries, including 22 European states.