Blue Passports for Ex-MPs’ Children Bill Approved by Senate Panel

Blue Passports for Ex-MPs’ Children Bill Approved by Senate Panel

The Blue Passports for Ex-MPs’ Children proposal has moved a step forward after the Senate Standing Committee on Interior and Narcotics Control unanimously approved a private member’s bill seeking to extend official passport eligibility to dependent children of former members of parliament up to the age of 28.

The proposed legislation aims to place former lawmakers’ dependent children on the same footing as dependent children of retired Grade-22 government officers, who are already entitled to receive blue passports under existing rules. The committee also discussed several other matters during its meeting, including the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) cigarette disappearance case, security arrangements for a senator, and an alleged abduction and forced marriage case.

Senate Panel Approves Blue Passport Proposal

The Members of Parliament Salaries and Allowances (Amendment) Bill, 2026, was introduced by Senator Abdul Qadir as a private member’s bill.

The legislation was reviewed during a meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Interior and Narcotics Control chaired by Senator Faisal Saleem Rahman.

The committee unanimously approved the proposal for the next stage of the legislative process.

Minister of State for Interior Muhammad Talal Chaudhry supported the bill during the meeting and stated that the committee’s recommendations would be forwarded to the federal cabinet for consideration by the relevant authority.

What the Bill Proposes

If the legislation eventually becomes law, dependent children of former members of parliament under the age of 28 would become eligible for blue passports.

According to committee discussions, the proposal is intended to align their entitlement with the existing policy applicable to dependent children of retired Grade-22 civil servants.

Committee members also discussed the broader implications of expanding eligibility, including the possible impact on Pakistan’s international passport ranking, before unanimously endorsing the bill.

The legislation must still complete the remaining parliamentary process before any changes can take effect.

FBR Cigarette Case Also Reviewed

During the same meeting, the committee examined developments in the case involving the disappearance of cigarettes reportedly worth Rs250 million from Federal Board of Revenue storage facilities in Swabi and Mardan.

Committee members questioned why officers allegedly linked to the matter had not been placed on the Exit Control List (ECL).

FBR officials responded that individuals could only be placed on the ECL after legal procedures had progressed, adding that investigating agencies must obtain departmental permission before initiating inquiries against FBR officers.

Committee members disagreed with that position, emphasizing that accountability institutions should be allowed to perform investigations independently.

Committee Raises Concerns Over Internal Investigation

The panel expressed reservations about the FBR’s internal fact-finding report.

According to committee members, the report assigned responsibility to lower-ranking employees, including a watchman, a peon and a driver, despite there being no reported signs of forced entry into the storage facilities.

Members questioned whether junior staff were being unfairly blamed while senior officials escaped scrutiny.

They also noted that although the FIR had been registered by FBR officials, the department had not fully cooperated with police investigators.

FIA Inquiry Still Underway

Officials from the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) informed the committee that its inquiry had identified several individuals, including a deputy collector, two officials and two inspectors, as allegedly involved in the case.

However, they clarified that the matter remains at the inquiry stage and has been transferred to the FIA Islamabad Zone for further proceedings.

When asked about placing the suspects on the Exit Control List, FIA officials said the investigation had not yet reached a stage where such action had been taken.

The committee instructed authorities to verify whether earlier recommendations regarding ECL placement had been implemented.

Non-Custom-Paid Vehicle Policy Discussed

The committee also reviewed the policy governing non-custom-paid and tampered vehicles allocated to government departments.

FBR officials explained that these vehicles are assigned to government departments or official posts under court orders rather than to individuals.

They added that responsibility for future allocations would shift from the FBR to the Cabinet Division, while vehicles already allocated to police and other departments would remain with them in accordance with Supreme Court directions.

Committee members requested a complete list of all allocated vehicles and sought clarification on whether future allocations would require cabinet approval.

Security Arrangements for Senator Reviewed

Members also discussed security arrangements for Senator Saifullah Abro.

The Interior Secretary informed the committee that the Threat Assessment Committee had finalized Islamabad security arrangements, although approval for Frontier Constabulary personnel was still pending.

Committee members expressed concern that security arrangements in Sindh had yet to be implemented despite earlier directives.

The committee chairman warned that the Sindh Inspector General of Police could be summoned if the matter remained unresolved and indicated it could be referred to the Privileges Committee.

Senator Abro told the committee he had submitted the names of preferred security personnel two months earlier but had not yet received a notification.

Inquiry Ordered Into Alleged Abduction and Forced Marriage Case

The committee also considered an alleged abduction and forced marriage case involving a woman from Islamabad.

According to SP City Dr Ayaz Hussain, police registered an FIR on May 5. Authorities have a marriage certificate on record, and the woman, who is over 18 years of age, sought legal protection through the courts and recorded a statement under Section 164 in Khanewal.

To review the circumstances, the committee decided that the Minister of State for Interior would establish a three-member inquiry committee.

The panel will include one Grade-18 female officer and two male officers and will be headed by an officer not below Grade 20. The committee has been tasked with determining whether the marriage was consensual and whether any additional legal action is required.

Focus on Public Security and Police Oversight

The meeting concluded with broader discussions on public security and policing.

Committee members raised concerns regarding the use of official security personnel, particularly the deployment of police resources for private individuals.

They called for stronger oversight, improved accountability and more effective use of law enforcement resources to serve the public interest.

Why the Meeting Matters

The committee’s proceedings covered several important governance issues, ranging from proposed changes to passport eligibility and parliamentary privileges to financial accountability, law enforcement and public security.

While the bill on blue passports has received committee approval, it must still complete the remaining legislative process before becoming law. Meanwhile, inquiries into the FBR cigarette disappearance case and the alleged forced marriage case remain ongoing.